:R  IGWS 
PATRIOTIC 
CATECHISM 


GIFT  OF 
SEELEY  W.  MUDD 

and 

GEORGE  L  COCHRAN    MEYER  ELSASSER 
DR.JOHNR.  HAYNES    WILLIAM  L.  HONNOLD 
JAMES  R.  MARTIN         MRS.  JOSEPH  F.  SARTORI 

to  the 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SOUTHERN  BRANCH 


JOHN  FISKE 


— 


f  . 


riot ic   (vitecnlsrr 


UN1V 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last 
date  stamped  below 


MAR  2  1 


JAIL  X  8  1956 


•  AN  AMERICAN'S 
PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM 


A  Brief  History  of  the  Settlement 
of  the  American  Colonies,  Their 
Royal  Charters,  the  Causes  of  Their 
Separation,  and  the  Establishment 
of  Their  Independence  of  Great 
Britain,  in  the  form  of  Question 
and  Answer.  ----- 


BY   ELIZABETH    SEDGWICK   VAILL. 


NEW  YORK: 

THE  REPUBLIC  PRESS 

1896 

99734 


COPYRIGHT,    l8g6 
BY 

ELIZABETH  SEDGWICK  VAJLL, 


PREFACE. 

"  Who,  with  heart  and  eyes,  could  walk 

Where  Liberty  had  been, — nor  see 
The  shining  foot-prints  of  her  Deity  ?" 

*T*His  LITTLE  BOOK  has  been  prepared  with  an 
imaginary  audience  of  those  who  love  the 
story  of  Liberty  attained  by  our  forefathers. 
If  the  answers  to  the  questions  do  not  satisfy, 
my  end  as  compiler  will  be  gained  if  they 
lead  to  a  careful  study  of  our  Country's  History 
as  told  by  Bancroft,  Lossing,  Fiske  and  others. 
It  has  been  my  aim  to  connect  the  story  so  as 
to  make  each  month  or  year  the  father  of  the 
next.  I  shall  be  glad  if  ' '  children  of  a  larger 
growth  "  find  their  memories  refreshed  as  to 
dates  of  important  events.  The  time  has  gone 
by  when  one  can  sit  by  the  fireside  and  listen 
to  the  recitals  of  a  grandfather  who,  becoming 
fired  with  his  theme,  "shoulders  his  crutch, 
and  shows  how  fields  were  won."  But  the  time 
has  not  come  when  we  can  afford  to  forget 
that  the  Country  of  which  we,  as  Americans,  are 
so  proud,  has  cost  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  our 
ancestors.  Let  us  cherish,  then,  that  Liberty  so 
dearly  bought. 

E.  S.  V. 
DEMAREST,  N.  J.,  December,  1896. 


6  AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

Ans.  In  1583,  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  half- 
brother  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  the  former 
having  obtained  a  transfer  of  the  latter's 
patent. 

3.  What   did   this   charter  to  Sir  Walter  in- 
clude ? 

Ans.  Nearly  all  the  land  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  now  called  the  United  States. 

4.  Was  the  expedition  sent  out  by  Raleigh 
successful  ? 

Ans.  The  only  thing  accomplished  was  the 
naming  of  nearly  all  the  eastern  coast  Virginia 
in  honor  of  the  Queen,  and  the  introduction  of 
tobacco  into  England. 

5.  When   was  the   first  permanent    English 
settlement  made  ? 

Ans.  In  1607,  under  James  I.,  who  had  given 
charters  to  two  companies,  called  "The  Lon- 
don Company"  and  "The  Plymouth  Com- 
pany." 

6.  Which  company  made  the  first  settlement  ? 
Ans.  The  London  Company,  which  sent  out 

three  ships   and   one   hundred   and   five  men, 
under  Capt.  Christopher  Newport. 

7.  Where  did  they  land  ? 

Ans.  They  were  driven  by  storms  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  from  which  they  ascended  a  river 
which  they  named  for  King  James.  Proceed- 


COLONIAL    SETTLEMENT.  7 

ing  about  forty  miles  up  the  river,  they  landed, 
built  a  few  huts,  and  named  the  place  James- 
town. 

8.  By  whom  was  the  next  settlement  made  ? 
Ans.   By  the  Plymouth  Company,  which  sent 

out  a  party  of  one  hundred  persons  in  the  ship 
"  Mayflower." 

9.  Where  did  they  land  ? 

Ans.  Inside  of  Cape  Cod,  on  the  shore  of 
what  had  been  called  "New  England,"  by 
Capt.  John  Smith,  as  early  as  1614.  The  rock 
on  which  they  landed  was  called  ' '  Plymouth 
Rock,"  after  the  Plymouth  Company. 

i  o.  What  was  the  date  of  this  landing  ? 

Ans.   December  21  st  (new  style),  1620. 

11.  What  name  has  been  given  to  those  who 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower  ? 

Ans.   "The  Pilgrim  Fathers." 

12.  What  names  were  given  to  the  two  colo- 
nies ? 

Ans.  The  London  Company's  settlement  was 
called  "Virginia,"  and  that  of  the  Plymouth 
Company  was  called  "  Massachusetts." 

13.  How  were  the  rest  of  the  thirteen  English 
colonies  formed  ? 

Ans.  Principally  from  Virginia  and  Massa- 
chusetts; but  also  by  companies  direct  from 
England. 


O  AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

PART  II. 

ROYAL    CHARTERS. 

14.  When,  and  under  what  Sovereign,  did 
each  colony  receive  its  Royal  Charter  ? 

Ans.  (i)  VIRGINIA'S  liberal  charter,  received 
by  the  London  Company  in  1607,  had  enabled 
her  to  flourish  as  a  colony;  but  James  I.,  jeal- 
ous of  her  growing  power,  in  1624  annulled  this 
charter.  Before  he  had  completed  a  new  code 
of  laws  for  the  Province,  he  died,  and  his  son, 
Charles  I. ,  succeeded  him.  After  many  years 
of  strife,  and  even  extreme  distress,  under  the 
governors  sent  from  England,  Virginia  again 
became  a  royal  province  under  Charles  II., 
1684. 

(ii)  MASSACHUSETTS,  whose  pioneers  landed 
on  Plymouth  Rock  in  1620,  conformed  to  the 
Plymouth  Company's  grant.  Large  accessions 
to  this  Colony  were  soon  made  by  those  who 
sought  religious  freedom  in  the  wilds  of  New 
England,  and,  in  1629,  they  received  from 
Charles  I.  a  charter  confirming  that  of  the 
Plymouth  Company,  and  conveying  to  them 
powers  of  government.  They  were  called 
"  The  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony." 


ROYAL    CHARTERS.  9 

(iii)  In  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  settlements  were 
made  on  the  Piscataqua  river  in  1623.  It  be- 
came a  distinct  Royal  Province  in  1680  under 
Charles  II. 

(iv)  RHODE  ISLAND  was  settled  in  1636  by 
Roger  Williams,  who  had  been  driven  from 
Massachusetts  on  account  of  his  religious 
opinions.  He  obtained  a  grant  of  land  from 
Canonicus,  chief  Sachem  of  the  Narragansetts, 
and  in  recognition  of  ' '  God's  merciful  provi- 
dence in  his  distress,"  he  called  the  place  Prov- 
idence. He  obtained  a  free  charter  in  1644. 

(v)  CONNECTICUT  was  first  settled  by  the 
Dutch  at  Hartford.  They  gave  way  to  several 
English  Colonies,  who  combined  under  one 
name  in  1636  under  a  charter  from  Charles  I. 

(vi)  NEW  YORK  was  first  settled  by  the 
Dutch  in  1614,  but  it  was  surrendered  to  the 
English  in  1664  under  Charles  II. 

(vii)  NEW  JERSEY  was  settled  by  the  Dutch 
in  1620.  The  first  permanent  English  settle- 
ment was  at  Elizabethtown  in  1664.  She  be- 
came a  separate  Royal  Province  in  1736  under 
George  II. 

(viii)  PENNSYLVANIA  was  settled  in  1681  by 
William  Penn,  who  obtained  a  grant  of  terri- 
tory from  Charles  II. 

(ix)  DELAWARE  was  first  settled  by  the  Dutch, 


10        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

Swedes,  and  Finns,  but  was  taken  by  the 
English  in  1664  and  became  an  English  Colony 
under  Queen  Anne  in  1703. 

(x)  MARYLAND'S  first  English  settlement  was 
made  by  Lord  Baltimore  at  St.  Mary's,  under 
a  special  charter  from  Charles  I.  in  1632. 

(xi)  NORTH  CAROLINA  was  settled  in  1663  by 
a  company  of  English  noblemen  to  whom 
Charles  II.  had  granted  the  territory  between 
Virginia  and  Florida.  This  grant  reverted  to 
the  Crown  in  1729,  when  North  Carolina  be- 
came, under  George  II.,  a  distinct  Royal  Pro- 
vince. 

(xii)  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  settled  by  the  English 
in  1670,  obtained  her  separate  charter  in  1729 
under  George  II. 

(xiii)  GEORGIA  was  settled  in  1733  by  an 
English  gentleman  (General  James  Oglethorpe), 
who  made  a  settlement  at  Savannah  and  named 
the  province  Georgia,  after  George  II. 


CAUSES  OF  SEPARATION.  ii 


PART  III. 

CAUSES     LEADING    TO    THE    WAR    OF    THE     REVOLU- 
TION. 

15.  Did  the  inhabitants  of  the  thirteen  Colo- 
nies live  contentedly  under  English  government? 

Ans.  No;  they  suffered  many  acts  of  tyranny 
and  oppression. 

1 6.  Mention   seven  of  the  earlier  causes  of 
dissatisfaction  with  England? 

Ans.  (i)  All  laws  regulating  trade  between 
the  Colonies,  and  between  the  Colonies  and 
other  countries,  were  made  by  the  English  Par- 
liament. 

(ii)  The  Colonies  were  forced  to  send  nearly 
all  their  leading  products  to  England  for  sale. 

(iii)  The  Colonies  were  not  allowed  to  buy 
European  goods,  except  in  England. 

(iv)  American  manufactures  were  prohibited, 
and  it  was  declared  that  the  Colonists  had  no 
right  to  make  a  "horseshoe  nail  "  without  per- 
mission of  Parliament. 

(v)  A  "  Navigation  Act  "  was  passed  in  1660, 
which  declared:  "  No  merchandise  shall  be  im- 
ported into  the  plantations  but  in  English  ves- 
sels, navigated  by  Englishmen,  under  penalty 


12         AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

of  forfeiture."  Thus,  foreign  ships  were  pre- 
vented from  entering  any  port  of  the  Colonies. 

(vi)  Customs-houses  were  established  in  all 
principal  ports,  and  duties  were  there  collected 
for  the  King. 

(vii)  "Writs  of  Assistance"  were  given  to 
English  officers,  conferring  the  right  to  search 
all  places  of  business  and  private  houses  for 
smuggled  goods. 

17.  How  long  had  these  wrongs  existed  ? 
Ans.  For  more  than  one  hundred  years. 

1 8.  What  act  of  injustice  caused  greater  dis- 
content than  those  just  mentioned  ? 

Ans.  An  attempt  to  tax  the  Colonies  to  pay 
the  expenses  of  a  war  between  France  and  Eng 
land,  which  closed  in  1763. 

19.  What  was  the   occasion  of  this  war  be- 
tween France  and  England  ? 

Ans.  The  French  had  been  fast  gaining  a 
foothold  in  America,  and  the  English  denied 
them  the  right. 

20.  Had  the  Colonies  assisted  England  in  this 
war  ? 

Ans.  Yes;  they  had  lost  30,000  men  and 
spent  $16,000,000,  of  which  England  had  re- 
paid only  $5,000,000. 

21.  Why  did  the  Colonies  object  to  this  tax  ? 
Ans.   Because  they  had  no  representation  in 


CAUSES    OF    SEPARATION.  13 

Parliament,  and  they  declared  that  ' '  taxation 
without  representation"  was  tyranny. 

22.  What  was  the  form  of  this  tax  ? 

Ans.  It  was  called  the  "Stamp  Act,"  and 
provided  that  a  stamp  bought  of  the  English 
Government  should  be  placed  upon  "  all  legal 
documents,  newspapers,  pamphlets,  bills  of 
lading,  marriage  certificates,  wills,  college 
diplomas,  leases,"  etc. 

23.  Was  any  objection  to  this  tax  raised  in 
Parliament. 

Ans.  William  Pitt,  Edmund  Burke,  Isaac 
Barre,  and  others  made  eloquent  and  cogent 
appeals  against  this  tax,  as  an  act  of  oppression. 

24.  When  did  the  Stamp  Act  become  a  law? 
Ans.  It  was  passed   March    22,    1765,   to  go 

into  effect  the  first  of  the  following  November. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  have  those  who  re- 
sisted sent  to  England  for  trial. 

25.  Was  the  Stamp  Act  enforced? 

Ans.  No.  The  Colonists  made  such  resist- 
ance that  no  officer  of  the  English  government 
dared,  or  could,  sell  a  stamp. 

26.  What  were  some  of  these  acts  of  resist- 
ance ? 

Ans.  (i)  A  "Bill  of  Rights"  was  drawn  up 
asserting  that  the  Colonists  were  entitled  to  all 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  natural  born  sub- 
jects of  Great  Britain. 


14        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

(ii)  Though  America  had  almost  no  manu- 
factories, the  merchants  pledged  themselves 
to  import  no  English  goods  until  the  Stamp 
Act  was  repealed. 

(iii)  Boston  said,  "We  will  form  a  combina- 
tion to  eat  nothing,  drink  nothing  and  wear 
nothing  imported  from  Great  Britain. " 

(iv)  When  the  day  arrived  for  the  Act  to  go 
into  effect,  muffled  bells  were  tolled,  flags  were 
displayed  at  half-mast,  Liberty  was  represented 
as  dead  by  burial  scenes,  and  Government 
stamp  agents  were  hung  in  effigy. 

27.  What  was  the  effect  of  these  demonstra- 
tions ? 

Ans.  Parliament  was  obliged  to  consider  the 
question  of  repeal. 

28.  What    illustrious    American   was   called 
before  Parliament  to  give  his  opinion  in  regard 
to  this  tax  ? 

Ans.  Benjamin  Franklin,  who  was  in  Eng- 
land to  urge  a  petition  for  the  Pennsylvania 
Colony. 

29.  When  did  Franklin  appear  before  Parlia- 
ment ? 

Ans.  February  13,  1766. 

30.  What  impression  did  Franklin  make  in 
Parliament  ? 

Ans.   His  manly  bearing  and    his  wise  and 


CAUSES    OF    SEPARATION.  15 

brave  answers  gained  him  honor,  and  were 
without  doubt  the  immediate  cause  of  the 
repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act. 

3 1 .  When  was  the  Stamp  Act  repealed  ? 
Ans.   March  18,  1766. 

32.  What  was  the  next  act  of  oppression  by 
Parliament  ? 

Ans.  In  order  to  maintain  the  right  of 
the  English  Government  to  tax  the  Colonies, 
new  duties  were  imposed  in  1767  on  "glass, 
paper,  painters'  colors,  tea,  etc.,"  and  a 
"  Board  of  Trade,"  to  act  independently  of  the 
Colonies,  was  established  at  Boston. 

33.  How  did  Parliament  now  guard  against 
any  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  Colonies  ? 

Ans.  Troops  were  sent  to  America  to  enforce 
these  taxes,  and  by  a  "  Mutiny  Act, "  it  was 
ordered  that  the  Colonists  should  furnish  these 
troops  with  quarters  and  supplies. 

34.  What  was  the  effect  of  this  Act  upon  the 
Colonists  ? 

Ans.  They  were  filled  with  indignation  at 
having  to  feed  and  shelter  their  oppressors. 
>*Frequent  quarrels  arose  between  the  people 
and  the  soldiers,  and  on  March  5,  1770,  a  fight 
resulted,  in  which  eight  inhabitants  of  Boston 
were  killed  and  several  wounded.  This  fight 
was  called  the  "  Boston  Massacre." 


16      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

35.  How  did  Parliament  receive  the  news  of 
the  resistance  ? 

Ans.  It  took  off  all  taxes  except  on  tea, 
which  was  left  to  maintain  the  principle  of  the 
right  of  taxation. 

36.  How  did  the  Colonists  receive  this  con- 
cession ? 

Ans.  As  they,  too,  were  contending  for  a  prin- 
ciple, they  refused  to  buy  tea,  and  began  to  use 
as  a  substitute,  raspberry  leaves,  sassafras,  etc. 

37.  What  was   done  with  the  tea  sent  from 
England  ? 

Ans.  Ships  reaching  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia were  sent  back.  At  Boston,  the 
British  authorities  would  not  allow  the  tea- 
ships  to  return. 

38.  In  consequence  what  happened  at  Boston  ? 
Ans.  On  the  night  of  December    16,    1773, 

sixty  men  disguised  as  Indians  boarded  the 
ships,  and  emptied  342  chests  of  tea  into  Boston 
Harbor.  This  is  known  as  the  "  Boston  Tea- 
Party. " 

39.  What  action  did  the  English  Parliament 
then  take  ? 

Ans.  On  March  7,  1774,  it  passed  a  bill 
declaring  the  port  of  Boston  closed  until  the 
tea  destroyed  should  be  paid  for. 

40.  What  was  the  effect  of  the  Boston  Port 
Bill  on  other  Colonies  ? 


CAUSES    OF    SEPARATION.  17 

Ans.  (i)  Letters  of  sympathy  and  material 
aid  were  sent  to  Boston,  and  assemblies  pro- 
tested against  this  measure. 

(ii)  Party  lines  were  drawn,  those  opposed  to 
Royalty  being  called  Whigs  and  those  in  favor 
called  Tories. 

(iii)  The  brig  "Peggy  Stewart"  arrived  at 
Annapolis  from  London,  October,  1774,  with 
more  than  2,000  Ibs.  of  tea,  on  which  the  owner 
made  haste  to  pay  the  duty.  The  people  of 
Maryland  resented  this  voluntary  submission  to 
the  British  claim,  and  kept  a  watch  to  prevent 
its  landing  until  the  two  importers  and  the 
shipowner  offered  to  burn  the  tea.  This  did 
not  satisfy  the  people,  and  the  owner  of  the 
brig  then  proposed  to  burn  the  brig  also.  This 
offer  being  accepted,  the  owner  and  importers 
went  on  board  with  hats  off  and  lighted  torches 
in  their  hands  and  set  fire  to  the  chests  of  tea, 
all  of  which,  with  every  appurtenance  of  the 
"  Peggy  Stewart, "  was  consumed.  This  is  only 
one  instance  of  the  feeling  that  had  been  roused 
throughout  the  Colonies. 

41.  By  what  method  did  the  Colonies  express 
their  UNITED  sentiment? 

Ans.  By  calling  the  First  Continental  Con- 
gress, which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  Sept.  5,1774. 

42.  What  action  did  the  Continental  Congress 
take? 


1 8      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  It  sustained  Massachusetts  in  her  resist- 
ance ;  issued  a  protest  against  standing  armies 
being  kept  in  the  Colonies  without  the  consent 
of  the  people  ;  and  agreed  to  hold  no  inter- 
course with  Great  Britain. 

43.  At  what  cost  did  the  Colonists  maintain 
their  rights  ? 

Ans.  As  manufactures  had  been  discouraged 
by  England,  the  Colonists  suffered  many  priva- 
tions, until  they  learned  to  be  self-reliant  and 
produce  their  own  necessaries  of  life. 

44.  What  other  act  immediately  followed  the 
Boston  Port  Bill  ? 

Ans.  The  Quebec  Act,  which  was  a  plan  to 
subvert  the  charters  of  Massachusetts  and  other 
Colonies  by  taking  away  their  dearest  rights, 
and  extending  the  boundaries  of  the  ' '  new  gov- 
ernment of  Quebec"  to  the  Ohio  and  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  over  a  region  which  included  the 
area  of  the  present  States  of  Ohio,  Michigan, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Wisconsin. 

45.  What  sentiment  was  now  growing  in  the 
minds  of  the  Colonists  ? 

Ans.  Before  the  year  1774  very  few  of  the 
Colonists  contemplated  a  separation  from  the 
Mother  Country,  but  developments  in  the 
spring  of  that  year  aroused  this  very  feeling. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF   INDEPENDENCE.  19 


PART  IV. 

THE    COLONIES   DECLARE,     AND      TAKE      MEASURES, 
FOR    INDEPENDENCE. 

46.  Where  and  when  was  the  first  united  sen- 
timent expressed  that  led  to  a  separation  from 
the  Mother  Country  ? 

Ans.  At  the  First  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  at  Philadelphia,  Sept.  5,  1774.  The 
Declaration  and  Resolves  then  framed  not  only 
expressed  the  will  of  the  Colonists,  but  paved 
the  way  for  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

47.  What  steps  did  this  Congress  take  toward 
a  reconciliation  with  the  British  government  ? 

Ans.  It  petitioned  the  King  in  the  most  affec- 
tionate and  respectful  manner  to  restore  the 
violated  rights  of  the  Colonists,  as  "English 
freemen. " 

48.  While   this   First    Continental    Congress 
was  thus  in  session  at  Philadelphia,  what  were 
English  officers  doing  in  New  England  ? 

Ans.  They  were  seizing  all  military  stores 
possible,  and  the  Colonists  were  resisting  and 
preparing  for  the  conflict,  now  inevitable. 

49.  What  were  some  of  the  first  signs  that 
war  was  imminent  ? 


20      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  (i)  The  Second  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts  met  in  February,  1775,  and  ap- 
pointed eleven  men  as  their  Committee  of 
Safety,  charged  to  resist  every  attempt  at  exe- 
cuting the  acts  of  Parliament. 

(ii)  This  committee  was  empowered  to  take 
possession  of  all  warlike  stores  in  the  province, 
and  to  make  returns  of  Militia  and  Minute-men 
who  had  been  preparing  for  the  conflict. 

(iii)  Work  or  supplies  for  the  English  troops 
were  forbidden,  and  the  committee  was  urged 
to  prepare  military  stores  and  review  the  com- 
panies of  Minute-men. 

50.  When  did  the  Colonists  first  forcibly  re- 
sist the  English  government  ? 

Ans.  On  February  26,  1775,  General  Gage, 
who  was  the  English  officer  in  charge  at  Boston, 
having  learned  that  a  number  of  field-pieces 
were  collected  at  Salem,  sent  a  party  of  soldiers 
to  take  possession  of  them  in  the  name  of  the 
King.  The  people  of  Salem,  having  been  ap- 
prised of  their  approach,  raised  their  draw- 
bridge, and  thus  prevented  their  entering  the 
town,  and  defeated  their  purpose. 

51.  When  and  where   did   the    War  of    the 
Revolution  actually  begin  ? 

Ans.  On  April  19,  1775,  at  Lexington  and 
Concord,  about  sixteen  miles  from  Boston, 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  21 

52.  What    movement    on   the    part    of    the 
British  led  to  this  collision  ? 

Ans.  The  vigilant  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  had 
discovered  preparations  by  the  British  to  take 
military  stores  which  had  been  gathered  at 
Concord. 

53.  What  measures  were  taken  to  defeat  this 
movement  ? 

Ans.  On  the  night  of  April  i8th,  Paul 
Revere,  who  also  had  watched  developments, 
learned  that  British  troops  were  to  start  about 
midnight  for  Concord,  and  that  orders  had 
been  given  to  British  sentinels  to  allow  no  one 
to  leave  the  town.  A  few  minutes  before  this 
order  went  into  effect,  Revere — having  ar- 
ranged for  a  friend  to  give  the  "  lantern  sig- 
nals "  now  so  memorable, — was  rowed  across 
the  river  Charles.  The  signals  from  the  "  Old 
North  Church "  being  given,  he  mounted  a 
horse  that  was  in  waiting,  and  struck  out  for 
the  country  beyond.  A  knock  on  the  doors 
and  a  cry  of  alarm  as  he  rushed  through  the 
towns  and  village  streets,  roused  the  inhabit- 
ants, and  as  the  British  troops  advanced,  the 
firing  of  guns  and  ringing  of  bells  revealed 
that  some  herald  had  preceded  them  and 
warned  the  people  of  their  approach  When 
the  morning  of  April  igth  dawned,  Lexington 


22        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

Green  was  alive  with  Minute-men,  patriots  from 
twenty-three  towns  having  answered  this  ' '  mid- 
night call  of  Paul  Revere."  As  the  morning 
broke,  Major  Pitcairn  under  orders  from  Gage, 
leading  800  British  soldiers,  advanced,  and 
when  within  a  few  rods  of  the  American 
patriots  cried  out,  ' '  Disperse,  ye  rebels ;  lay 
down  your  arms!"  "Too  few  to  resist,  too 
brave  to  fly,"  the  Minute-men  stood  firm. 
Pitcairn  then  ordered  his  men  to  fire.  The  fire 
was  feebly  returned,  and  no  harm  was  done  to 
the  British  troops;  but  Lexington  lost  seven 
men  killed  and  nine  wounded.  Then  the 
British  troops  drew  up  on  the  green,  fired  a 
volley,  huzzaed  three  times  in  triumph,  and 
after  a  short  halt  marched  on  to  Concord. 

54.  What  did  they  accomplish  at  Concord  ? 

Ans.  They  found  nothing  in  the  way  of  mili- 
tary stores  worthy  the  name ;  for  the  guns  had 
been  spiked  and  other  material  removed. 

55.  How  did  the  troops  show  their  chagrin  at 
this  failure  ? 

Ans.  Angry  at  this  fruitless  march,  they 
burned  the  liberty  pole,  set  fire  to  the  court- 
house and  rifled  private  dwellings. 

56.  Was  any  blood  shed  at  Concord  ? 

Ans.  Yes.  The  Minute-men,  having  heard  of 
the  fight  at  Lexington,  gathered  and  marched 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  23 

to  meet  the  British.  On  nearing  the  Concord 
river,  to  prevent  the  Minute-men  from  crossing 
the  British  began  to  take  up  the  planks  of  the 
bridge.  Finding  the  Americans  resolute,  a 
skirmish  occurred.  Three  patriots  were  killed, 
and  the  British  lost  two  men.  The  British  then 
retreated  in  disorder,  leaving  the  countrymen  in 
possession  of  the  bridge. 

57.  How  many  were  killed  and  wounded  in 
this  raid  ? 

Ans.  The  British  were  terribly  assailed  all  the 
way  on  their  retreat,  and  when  on  the  morning 
of  April  zoth,  they  crossed  over  to  Boston,  their 
loss  was  ascertained  to  be  in  killed  and 
wounded  273.  The  American  loss  was  less 
than  zoo. 

58.  What   important   military  move  did  the 
Americans  then  make  ? 

Ans.  They  began  blockading  Boston,  and  very 
soon  many  thousands  of  men  from  New  Hamp- 
shire, Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  were  at 
work  with  the  Massachusetts  men  building  in- 
trenchments  to  shut  in  the  British.  The  swift 
response  from  other  Colonies  showed  how 
strong  the  determination  was  to  avenge  the 
shedding  of  innocent  blood,  and  also,  that  a  firm 
conviction  had  at  last  seized  the  people,  that 
liberty  must  come  at  all  hazards. 


24        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

59.  What  was   the   immediate  result   of  the 
blockade  ? 

Ans.  This  sudden  stoppage  of  supplies  of  all 
kinds  caused  much  suffering  to  the  troops  and 
residents. 

60.  What  partial  relief  did  Gage  institute  ? 
Ans.   He  allowed  the   patriots  in   the   city, 

men,  women,  and  children,  a  safe  conduct  out 
of  the  town,  upon  condition  that  they  would 
not  join  in  any  attack  upon  the  troops,  leave  all 
their  arms  and  ammunition  in  Faneuil  Hall,  and 
take  no  provisions.  He  soon  rescinded  this 
order,  however,  leaving  many  thousands  of 
people  still  in  the  city. 

61.  What  was  the  immediate   effect   of  the 
"news  from  Lexington"  upon  other  Colonies? 

Ans.  (i)  On  the  23d  of  April,  New  York, 
filled  with  indignation,  declared  her  allegiance 
to  England  null  and  void.  Sloops  lying  at  her 
wharves  laden  with  supplies,  to  the  value  of 
eighty  thousand  pounds,  for  British  troops  at 
Boston,  were  unloaded.  On  following  days  the 
military  stores  of  the  city  were  secured,  vol- 
unteer companies  paraded  the  streets,  and  on 
May  i,  1775,  at  the  usual  time  and  places  of 
election,  a  new  Committee  of  One  Hundred 
men  was  chosen,  which  resolved,  in  the  most 
explicit  manner,  to  ' '  stand  or  fall  with  the 
Liberty  of  the  Continent." 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  25 

(ii)  New  Jersey  patriots  were  willing  to 
hazard  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  support  of 
Massachusetts. 

(iii)  Pennsylvania  said,  "  Let  us  not  be  bold 
in  declaration  and  cold  in  action." 

(iv)  Maryland  gave  up  the  arms  and  ammu- 
nition of  the  province  to  their  "freemen." 

(v)  Virginia,  on  the  2d  of  May,  at  the  "cry 
from  Lexington,"  signified  her  readiness  to 
obey  the  call  for  Liberty. 

(vi)  North  and  South  Carolina  proceeded  to 
place  their  Colonies  in  a  state  of  defence. 

(vii)  The  skirmish  at  Lexington  having  be- 
come known  in  Savannah  on  the  loth  of  May, 
Georgia  joined  the  Union  and  sent  63  barrels 
of  rice  and  122  pounds  in  spices  to  the  "  Boston 
Wanderers." 

62.  What  military  step  of  great  importance 
did  the  Americans  next  take  ? 

Ans.  They  captured  Fort  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  where  a  large  number  of  cannon 
and  other  military  stores  were  held  by  the 
British.  Connecticut,  acting  on  her  own  re- 
sponsibility, with  Col.  Ethan  Allen  of  her  own 
Colony  at  the  head  of  eighty  backwoodsmen, 
principally  from  the  New  Hampshire  grants 
(now  Vermont)  made  a  sudden  descent  upon 
Ticonderoga  on  the  early  morning  of  May  10, 


26      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

1775,  an(^  demanded  its  surrender.  The  officer 
in  charge  inquired,  "  By  whose  authority  ?" 
Colonel  Allen  responded,  "In  the  name  of  the 
Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress. " 
The  demand  was  immediately  complied  with, 
and  Ticonderoga,  that  had  cost  England  eight 
million  pounds  sterling  and  many  lives,  was 
won  in  ten  minutes  by  a  few  undisciplined  men, 
without  the  loss  of  life  or  limb.  More  than  one 
hundred  brass  cannon  and  many  small  stores 
were  taken,  which  were  of  great  service  to  the 
future  Continental  Army.  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  which  latter  was  captured  at  the 
same  time  by  Col.  Seth  Warner,  were  both 
near  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain  and  on  the 
high  road  to  Canada. 

63.  What  civil  measures  were  the  Colonists 
now  taking  ? 

Ans.  The  "Second  Continental  Congress" 
was  assembling  at  Philadelphia.  The  Colonies 
now  numbering  3,000,000  people  had  begun 
to  realize  their  importance  and  their  power. 
They  also  began  to  see  that  Liberty  in  its  best 
form  must  be  assumed  and  maintained,  and  the 
assembling  of  this  Second  Congress  on  May  10, 
1775,  was  at  the  call  of  the  Colonies. 

64.  What  work  lay  before  the  Congress  ? 
Ans.   No  power  was  intrusted  to  it  save  that 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  27 

of  counsel,    and   it   represented  only    the   un- 
formed opinions  of  an  unformed  people. 

65.  What  was  its  first  important  action  ? 

Ans.  After  much  conference  with  the  Colo- 
nies, and  while  news  of  encounters  and  engage- 
ments were  constantly  coming  to  them,  a  Gen- 
eralissimo was  asked  for,  to  educate  and  form 
the  rude  forces  which  had  been  for  a  month  or 
more  gathering  around  Boston.  In  answer  to 
this  demand  on  June  15,  1775,  at  the  particu- 
lar request  of  New  England,  George  Washing- 
ton of  Virginia,  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  was  nominated,  and  by  ballot  unan- 
imously elected  as  "  Commander-in-Chief . " 

66.  Meanwhile,    what    other    significant   en- 
gagements, besides  the  taking  of  Fort  Ticonder- 
oga,  occurred  in  May  of  1775  ? 

Ans.  When  the  intelligence  of  the  conflict  at 
Lexington  and  Concord  reached  the  port  of 
Machias,  in  the  Maine  district,  the  people  deter- 
mined to  seize  the  "  Margretta  "  and  her  con- 
voy, lying  in  port  loading  with  lumber  for  the 
British  at  Boston.  The  officer  in  charge,  dis- 
covering the  hostile  intent  of  the  people, 
weighed  anchor,  and  moved  down  the  river  to  a 
wharf  about  four  miles  below  the  town.  Not  to 
be  thwarted,  a  few  young  men  seized  a  timber 
sloop  lying  at  the  wharf,  secured  the  captain 


28      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

and  crew,  called  for  volunteers,  and  with  twenty 
fowling  pieces,  thirteen  pitchforks,  a  dozen  nar- 
row axes,  a  few  pounds  of  pork,  a  bag  of  bread, 
and  a  barrel  of  water,  they  set  sail  with  a  fair 
breeze  from  the  northwest.  The  sloop  proved 
to  be  the  better  sailer,  and  the  schooner  was 
speedily  overtaken.  The  "  Margretta  "  fired 
upon  the  sloop,  but  the  fire  was  returned  with 
good  effect.  The  Britisher  was  boarded; 
Joseph  Wheaton  of  the  sloop  lowered  the 
schooner's  colors,  and  thus  ended  the  first  naval 
victory  of  the  United  Colonies.  The  "Mar- 
gretta" was  manned  by  two  commissioned  offi- 
cers and  thirty-eight  warrant  and  petty  officers. 
She  carried  an  ample  supply  of  powder  and 
ball,  ten  six  pounders,  twenty  swivels,  forty 
muskets,  forty  cutlasses,  forty  picks,  forty 
boarding  axes,  ten  pairs  of  pistols,  etc.  The  ex- 
act loss  of  life  on  either  side  has  not  been  re- 
corded, but  the  aggregate  did  not  exceed 
twenty.  This  first  blow  struck  on  the  water 
after  the  war  of  the  Revolution  had  actually  be- 
gun, has  been  called  the  "Lexington  of  the 
Sea,"  for  it  was  characterized  by  a  rising  of  the 
people  against  a  regular  force,  a  long  chase,  a 
bloody  struggle  and  a  triumph. 

67.   Mention  other  encounters  in  May,  1775  ? 

Ans.   Boston  was  so  beleaguered,  that  the  only 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  29 

supplies  possible  for  the  British  army  must  be 
obtained  from  islands  in  or  near  the  harbor. 
On  the  2ist  of  May  an  attempt  to  get  the  hay 
on  Grape  Island  was  discovered  about  sunrise. 
Alarm  guns  were  fired,  drums  beat  to  arms, 
bells  were  rung,  and  patriots  at  once  secured 
boats  and  pushed  off ;  but  the  English  re- 
treated, and  the  Americans  set  fire  to  the  hay. 
On  the  27th  an  attempt  was  made  to  secure  or 
destroy  hay  and  stock  on  Noddle's  and  Hog 
Islands,  lest  it  should  prove  an  aid  to  the  Brit- 
ish. A  schooner  and  sloop,  sent  from  the 
British  squadron  to  prevent  this,  were  forced 
to  give  up  their  purpose,  with  the  loss  by  the 
English  of  twenty  killed  and  fifty  wounded,  and 
by  the  provincials  of  four  slightly  wounded. 

68.  What  famous   battle   occurred  June   17, 

1775? 

Ans.  The  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  This  bat- 
tle has  been  the  theme  of  the  home  and  the 
fireside  more  often,  perhaps,  than  that  of  any 
other  engagement. 

69.  What  led  directly  to  this  battle  ? 

Ans.  The  Colonists  had  learned  that  the 
British  intended  to  fortify  Bunker  Hill,  and 
they  determined  to  anticipate  them.  George 
Washington, -who  was  elected  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Army  on  June  isth,  had  not  as 


30        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

yet  assumed  command.  A  body  of  about 
1,500  Americans,  under  Capt.  William  Prescott, 
assembled  at  Cambridge  on  June  i6th,  and, 
under  cover  of  the  night,  they  marched  to  the 
place  appointed.  When  the  morning  of  the 
i  yth  dawned,  the  British  were  startled  by  the 
view  of  a  redoubt  on  the  Hill,  that  had  not  been 
seen  before.  Resolved  to  drive  the  Americans 
from  the  position  thus  occupied  during  the 
night,  General  Howe  crossed  the  Charles  river 
with  3,000  men,  and,  forming  at  the  landing, 
they  slowly  ascended  the  Hill.  The  patriot 
ranks  lay  quietly  behind  the  breastworks  until 
the  British  were  within  ten  rods,  when,  at  a 
command  from  Prescott,  a  blaze  of  light  shot 
from  the  redoubt,  and  whole  platoons  of  British 
fell.  There  was  a  second  advance,  with  a  like 
result.  At  a  third  advance,  only  one  volley 
smote  them,  for  the  ammunition  of  the  Ameri- 
cans was  exhausted.  The  British  then  charged, 
with  fixed  bayonets,  and  though  the  patriots 
resisted  with  clubbed  muskets,  they  were  driven 
from  the  field.  The  British  were  too  much 
broken  to  pursue,  and  the  effect  upon  the 
Americans  of  this  first  regular  battle  of  the 
Revolution  was  that  of  victory.  The  British 
lost  in  killed  and  wounded  about  1,100,  and 
the  Americans  about  400.  The  one  great  loss 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  31 

to  the  Colonists  was  that  of  the  brave  Gen. 
Joseph  Warren,  who  was  one  of  America's 
truest  sons.  When  the  tidings  of  the  Battle  of 
Charlestown  (Bunker  Hill)  reached  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  Patrick  Henry  exclaimed: 
"A  breach  on  our  affection  was  needed  to  rouse 
the  country  to  action." 

70.  When  and  where   did   Washington   take 
command  of  the  American  Army  ? 

Ans.  At  Cambridge,  on  July  3,  1775.  Soon 
after  his  appointment  he  left  Philadelphia  for 
New  England.  Congress  had  adopted  the  un- 
disciplined troops  around  Boston  as  the  "  Con- 
tinental Army,"  and  appointed  general  officers 
to  assist  Washington  in  its  organization  and 
future  operations. 

71.  What  was  Washington's  first  step  on  as- 
suming command  ? 

Ans.  To  make  returns  to  Congress  of  the 
condition  of  affairs  at  Boston. 

72.  What  was  the  apparent  situation  of  the 
British  forces  ? 

Ans.  From  Prospect  Hill,  in  Cambridge, 
Washington  took  a  view  of  Boston  and  Charles- 
town.  The  latter  town  having  been  burned, 
nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  it  but  ruins  of  the 
former  homes  of  patriots.  Above  these  ruins 
rose  the  tents  of  the  British,  who  were  strongly 


32         AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

posted  on  Bunker  Hill,  and  their  sentries  were 
extended  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  beyond 
Charlestown  Neck.  On  Breed's  Hill,  Copp's 
Hill,  and  other  important  points,  men  with 
batteries  were  on  guard.  A  twenty-gun  ship 
was  anchored  below  Charlestown  ferry,  and 
three  floating  batteries  lay  on  the  Mystic.  The 
Light  Horse  and  a  few  men  were  in  Boston. 
The  remainder  were  on  Roxbury  Neck,  strongly 
fortified  with  outposts  so  far  advanced  that  the 
sentries  of  the  two  armies  could  almost  have 
conversation  with  each  other.  Of  the  inhab- 
itants of  Boston,  nearly  7,000  still  remained  in 
town.  These  were  confined  to  their  homes 
after  ten  o'clock  at  night,  deprived  of  whole- 
some food,  liable  to  be  robbed  without  redress, 
and  exposed  to  the  malice  of  the  British  sol- 
diery. 

73.   How  was  the  American  Army  disposed  ? 

Ans.  They  were  gathered  in  a  semicircle, 
from  the  west  end  of  Dorchester  to  Maiden,  a 
distance  of  twelve  miles.  Entrenchments  had 
been  thrown  up  at  convenient  places.  The 
main  street  at  Roxbury  was  defended  by  a 
breastwork,  in  front  of  which  sharpened  trees 
pointing  toward  Boston  prevented  the  approach 
of  Light  Horse,  and  sentinels  and  smaller  posts 
stretched  beyond  the  Maiden  river. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  33 

74.  What  was  the  size  of  the  American  Army 
at  this  time  ? 

Ans.  The  American  rolls  recorded  17,000  men, 
but  Washington  never  had  more  than  14,500 
fit  for  duty.  To  bring  all  these  crude  volun- 
teers into  working  order  and  fortify  every 
weak  point  was  the  imperative  need,  but 
"Washington's  strong  and  uniform  will  was 
exerted  with  a  quiet  and  commanding  energy. " 

75.  What  acts  of  the  army  occurred  in  July, 

1775? 
Ans,  Skirmishes  between  the  Americans  and 

the  British  were  frequent.  On  July  8th,  the 
British  advance  guard  nearest  Roxbury  was 
driven  in  and  several  muskets  taken.  On  the 
night  of  the  roth,  300  American  Volunteers 
swept  Long  Island,  in  Boston  Harbor,  of  a 
large  number  of  sheep  and  cattle,  and  took 
sixteen  prisoners.  Two  days  later,  an  Ameri- 
can officer  with  a  number  of  men  went  to  the 
same  island  and  burned  the  hay  which  was 
stacked  there  for  the  British  cavalry.  Other 
American  companies  went  to  Weymouth  and 
Hingham,  and  reaped  and  brought  off  the 
ripe  grain  from  Nantasket.  On  the  night 
of  the  aoth,  Vose,  a  Major  in  Heath's 
regiment,  set  fire  to  the  lighthouse  in  Boston 
Harbor,  and  brought  off  ammunition  and  lamps. 


34        AN    AMERICAN  S   PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

His  party  was  pursued  by  a  British  man-of- 
war,  but  the  adventurous  soldiers  escaped. 
Carpenters,  with  a  guard  of  thirty  British 
marines,  were  sent  to  repair  the  lighthouse; 
but  on  the  3oth  they  were  attacked  by  a  party 
of  Americans  from  Dorchester  and  Squantum, 
who  killed  the  lieutenant  and  one  man  and 
captured  all  the  rest  of  the  party.  The 
Americans  had  one  killed  and  two  or  three 
wounded.  On  the  next  day,  in  "general 
orders,"  Washington  praised  their  gallant  and 
soldier-like  conduct. 

76.  By    what    means    was    the    Continental 
Army  supplied  with  the  necessaries  of  life  ? 

Ans.  Through  the  thoughtful  benevolence 
and  patriotism  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony. 
Each  householder  deemed  himself  a  sort  of 
commissary.  Such  articles  as  could  be  spared 
were  devoted  to  the  camp,  and  everybody's 
wagons  were  used  to  forward  them.  The 
troops  were  fed  by  the  unselfish  care  of  the 
people,  without  so  much  as  a  barrel  of  flour 
from  Congress. 

77.  What  was  Congress  waiting  for  ? 

Ans.  It  still  had  hopes  that  its  repeated 
appeals  to  King  George  would  result  in  con- 
ciliatory measures. 

78.  What  was  accomplished  by  the  Americans 
in  August,  1775. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  35 

Ans.  By  the  4th  of  that  month  the  army  was 
formed  into  three  grand  divisions:  at  Roxbury, 
Cambridge  and  Winter  Hill. 

79.  Who  commanded  these  divisions  ? 

Ans.  Generals  Artemas  Ward,  Charles  Lee, 
and  Israel  Putnam. 

80.  What   special  work  was  being  done   by 
them  ? 

Ans.  With  these  forces,  Washington  was 
closely  investing  Boston. 

8 1.  What  movement  was  made  in  regard  to 
Canada  ? 

Ans.  To  prevent  Canada  being  a  place  of 
rendezvous  and  supplies  for  Great  Britain,  a 
committee  went  to  Cambridge  to  consult  with 
Washington. 

82.  What  was  the  result  of  this  conference  ? 
Ans.     The   commandants  at   Fort   Ticonde- 

roga  and  Crown  Point  were  directed  to  proceed 
by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  to  Montreal  and 
Quebec.  On  August  3ist,  Gen.  Richard  Mont- 
gomery left  Crown  Point  for  the  purpose  of 
of  invading  Canada,  and  was  joined  by  Philip 
Schuyler  on  September  4th.  General  Wash- 
ington also  sent  an  expedition,  under  Col. 
Benedict  Arnold,  by  way  of  the  Kennebec  and 
Chaudiere  rivers,  to  attack  Quebec. 

83.  What  was  effected  by  these  expeditions  ? 


36      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  On  reaching  Canada,  Montgomery  pro- 
ceeded down  the  Sorrel  River  to  St.  John,  where 
there  was  a  strong  British  garrison.  The  fort 
was  besieged,  but  made  an  obstinate  resistance 
till  November  3,  1775,  when  it  was  taken. 
Montgomery  then  pressed  on  to  Montreal, 
which  was  taken  on  November  i3th.  Reach- 
ing on  toward  Quebec,  Montgomery  was  met 
before  that  citadel  by  Colonel  Arnold,  who  had 
taken  an  eastern  route,  by  way  of  Kennebec 
river.  Supplies  of  warm  clothing,  which 
Montgomery  had  taken  in  Montreal,  were  wel- 
comed by  Arnold's  troops,  who  had  experienced 
much  suffering  in  their  long,  cold  marches. 
The  garrison  at  Quebec  defied  the  Americans, 
who,  through  almost  daily  snow  storms,  be- 
sieged the  town  for  three  weeks.  Finally,  on 
December  31,  1775,  an  assault  of  the  fortress 
was  attempted,  in  which  the  good  and  brave 
Gen.  Richard  Montgomery  fell,  and  "with 
him  the  soul  of  the  expedition  fled."  The 
American  army  went  into  camp  near  Quebec, 
and  passed  a  rigorous  winter.  Reinforcements 
from  England  in  the  spring  of  1776  obliged  the 
patriots  to  abandon  their  purpose,  and  by  the 
middle  of  June  they  gave  up  all  foothold  on 
Canada. 

84.  When  were  warships  first  proposed  ? 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  37 

Ans.  On  October  5,  1775,  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  Washington  was  authorized  to 
employ  two  armed  vessels  to  intercept  British 
storeships  bound  for  Quebec. 

85.  When  was  the  first  gun  fired  in  Virginia 
against  the  British  ? 

Ans.  On  October  26,  1775,  at  Hampton,  to 
prevent  the  burning  of  the  town  by  a  British 
war- vessel  under  Dunmore. 

86.  What  was  the  result  ? 

Ans.  Dunmore  was  driven  off  and  his  fleet 
shattered. 

87.  What  was  the  last  important  battle  on  Co- 
lonial ground  in  1775  ? 

Ans.  The  battle  of  Great  Bridge,  Virginia, 
twelve  miles  from  Norfolk.  After  Dunmore's 
defeat  at  Hampton,  he  declared  open  war.  The 
Virginia  militia  flew  to  arms,  and  prepared 
breastworks  to  repulse  the  British.  On  Decem- 
ber gth,  an  attempt  by  Dunmore  to  cross  the 
bridge  was  met  by  the  Virginia  sharpshooters. 
After  a  struggle  of  fifteen  minutes,  the  British 
retreated,  losing  more  than  sixty  men  in  killed 
and  wounded.  The  Virginians  lost  only  one 
man. 

88.  How  did  the  year  1776  open  in  Virginia? 
Ans.   Dunmore,  who  had  been  royal  governor 

since  1770,  infuriated  by  his  want  of  success  at 


99734 


38     AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Hampton  and  Great  Bridge,  set  fire  to  the 
town  of  Norfolk  and  destroyed  it  on  January 
i,  1776. 

89.  What    was    the    American    situation    at 
Boston  in  the  winter  of  17 75-' 7 6  ? 

Ans.    Washington  had   strengthened  the  in- 
vestment of  the  city,  closely  watched  the  move 
ments  of  the  British,  looked  after  the  welfare  of 
his  troops,  and  prepared  for  action. 

90.  What  was    the    first    effective    military 
movement  in  that  vicinity  in  1776  ? 

Ans.  On  the  night  of  March  4th  intrench  - 
ments  were  raised  on  Dorchester  Heights,  which 
menaced  the  British  in  Boston  and  brought  con- 
sternation to  the  leaders. 

91.  What  was  the  result  of  this  movement  ? 
Ans.  The  British,  finding  that  they  would  not 

be  able  to  dislodge  the  patriots  from  their  van- 
tage ground,  decided  to  evacuate  Boston. 

92.  What  is  the  date  of  the  evacuation  of 
Boston  ? 

Ans.  March  17,  1776. 

93.  How  did  Washington  communicate  the 
news  to  Congress  ? 

Ans.  By  a  letter  dated  March  i7th,  which 
said:  "This  morning  the  ministerial  troops 
evacuated  the  town  of  Boston  without  destroy- 
ing it,  and  we  are  now  in  full  possession." 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  3$ 

94.  What  gave  evidence  of  haste  in  the  flight 
of  the  British  ? 

Ans.  The  stores  of  military  goods  which  they 
left.  There  were  250  cannon,  2,500  chaldrons 
of  seacoal,  25,000  bushels  of  wheat,  3,000  bush- 
els of  barley,  150  horses,  bedding  and  clothing 
for 'soldiers,  etc. 

95.  What  was  Washington's  next  step  ? 
Ans.  He  put  Boston  in  a  state  of  security,  and 

supposing  that  Howe's  destination  would  be  New 
York,  he  put  the  main  body  of  his  army  in  mo- 
tion for  that  city,  and  reached  there  himself  on 
April  14,  1776. 

96.  What    impressions    were    the   foregoing 
events  making  on  the  minds  of  the  Colonists  ? 

Ans.  In  the  opinion  of  the  whole  people  the 
necessity  of  a  "  Declaration  of  Independence  " 
was  steadily  gaining  ground. 

97.  What  was  the  attitude  of  the  Continental 
Congress  toward  independence  ? 

Ans.  It  had  begun  to  realize  that  a  separa- 
tion must  come,  and  had  already  authorized 
measures  for  defence  ;  but  not  till  June  7,  1776, 
did  Richard  Henry  Lee  introduce  a  resolution 
declaring  "these  United  Colonies  are,  and  of 
right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  States." 

98.  How  was  this  resolution  received  by  the 
Colonies  ? 


40      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  Before  this  time,  five  Colonies  (Rhode 
Island,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia)  had  declared  for  independ- 
ence, and  before  June  closed  all  the  other 
Colonies  united  in  this  decision. 

99.  When  did  Congress  meet  for  a  full  dis- 
cussion of  the  subject  ? 

Ans.   On  July  i,  1776. 

100.  What  were  some  of  the  important  com- 
mittees appointed  by  Congress  to  aid  in  carry- 
ing out  measures  to  insure  independence  ? 

Ans.  (i)  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert 
R.  Livingston  were  chosen,  by  ballot,  to  draft 
a  Declaration  of  Independence. 

(ii)  One  member  from  each  Colony  was 
named  to  construct  a  form  of  Confederation. 

(iii)  A  plan  for  "Treaties  with  Foreign 
Powers "  was  intrusted  to  five  members,  of 
which  Benjamin  Franklin  was  one. 

(iv)  A  "Board  of  War"  was  named,  with 
John  Adams  at  the  head. 

(v)  Congress  resolved  that  ' '  all  persons 
abiding  within  any  of  the  United  Colonies  and 
deriving  protection  from  its  laws,  owe  allegi- 
ance to  the  said  laws,  and  are  members  of  such 
Colony."  The  guilt  of  treason  was  charged 
upon  "all  members  of  any  of  the  United 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  41 

Colonies  who  should  be  adherent  to  the  King  of 
Great  Britain,  giving  him  aid  and  comfort. " 

10 1.  When   was   the   resolution   in   favor  of 
independence  adopted  by  Congress  ? 

Ans.  On  July  2,  1776. 

102.  What  day  is  called  the  Nation's  Birth- 
day, and  why  is  it  so  celebrated  ? 

Ans.  The  Fourth  of  July,  1776  ;  because  on 
that  day  the  instrument  known  as  "The 
Declaration  of  Independence,"  as  prepared  in 
its  final  form  by  the  committee  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  was  reported  to  Congress,  was 
unanimously  adopted  by  the  representatives  of 
twelve  of  the  thirteen  Colonies,  was  signed  by 
John  Hancock,  President  of  the  Congress,  and 
thus  formally  severed  the  political  connection 
between  the  United  States  of  America  and 
Great  Britain.  New  York's  delegates,  for 
want  of  instructions,  did  not  adopt  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  until  July  gth. 
Between  July  4th  and  August  26.  the  names  of 
the  "Signers"  were  affixed  to  the  engrossed 
copy  of  the  historic  document. 

103.  What  was  the  immediate  result  of  this 
Declaration  ? 

(i)  It  changed  the  old  thirteen  Colonies  into 
free  and  independent  States. 

(ii)  The  war  was  no  longer  a  civil  war. 
Great  Britain  was  a  foreign  country. 


42      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

(iii)  Every  former  subject  of  the  King  of 
England,  in  the  thirteen  Colonies,  now  owed 
allegiance  to  the  new  Republic. 

(iv)  The  States,  that  were  henceforth  in- 
dependent of  Great  Britain,  were  not  in- 
dependent of  one  another. 

(v)  The  United  States  of  America  were  now 
one  people,  assuming  powers  over  war,  peace, 
foreign  alliances  and  commerce. 

104.  How  did  the  Colonies  signify  their  ac- 
quiescence ? 

Ans.  In  MASSACHUSETTS  the  "  immortal 
State  paper  "  was  read  from  the  pulpit  by  each 
minister  to  his  congregation  and  entered  in  the 
town  records. 

MARYLAND  conjured  every  virtuous  citizen  to 
join  cordially  in  maintaining  the  freedom  of  her 
State  and  that  of  the  others. 

In  PHILADELPHIA  the  ''Committee  of  Safety" 
and  that  of  "Inspection"  marched  in  proces- 
sion to  the  State  House,  where  the  Declaration 
was  read  to  battalions  of  volunteers  and  a  con- 
course of  inhabitants  from  the  city  and  county, 
after  which  chimes  from  the  churches  and  peals 
from  the  State  House  bell,  proclaimed  ' '  Lib- 
erty throughout  the  land." 

In  NEW  JERSEY  the  Congress  of  that  State  in 
presence  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  the  Mili- 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  43 

tia  under  arms,  and  a  great  assembly  of  the 
people  published  at  Trenton  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  their  own  Constitution. 

In  NEW  YORK,  by  command  of  Washington, 
the  Declaration  was  read  to  every  brigade  in  the 
city,  followed  by  the  most  hearty  approbation. 
In  the  evening  the  equestrian  statue  of  George 
III.  that  stood  in  Bowling  Green  was  pulled 
down,  and  the  lead  eventually  run  into  bullets. 

In  all  the  other  Colonies  (now  States)  the  Dec- 
laration was  received  with  similar  demonstra- 
tions and  accepted  with  unspeakable  pleasure. 

105.  What  was  the  first  battle  after  separation 
was  decided  upon  ? 

Ans.  The  Battle  of  Sullivan's  Island,  in  South 
Carolina. 

1 06.  Can  you  give  an  account  of  this  battle, 
and  its  result  ? 

Ans.  A  large  fleet  was  sent  from  England  in 
the  spring  of  1776  to  operate  on  the  sea  coast  of 
the  southern  Colonies.  They  arrived  off 
Charleston  bar  on  the  4th  of  June.  Apprised  of 
their  designs,  and  encouraged  by  a  signal  success 
at  Moore's  Creek,  North  Carolina,  on  the  preced- 
ing February  27th,  the  southern  patriots  respond- 
ed cheerfully  to  the  call  of  Gen.  John  Rut- 
ledge,  President  of  the  Colony.  Several  thou- 
sand men  were  gathered  in  or  near  Charleston 


44      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

when  the  enemy  appeared.  Six  mounted  can- 
non had  been  erected  at  Fort  Sullivan,  com- 
manding the  channel,  and  the  fort  was  gar- 
risoned by  about  500  men  under  Col.  William 
Moultrie.  The  British  commenced  a  combined 
attack  on  June  28th  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
by  land,  and  Sir  Peter  Parker  by  sea.  The 
conflict  raged  for  ten  hours,  or  till  nightfall, 
when  the  British  fleet,  almost  shattered  into 
fragments,  abandoned  the  enterprise.  Gen. 
Charles  Lee,  who  had  charge  of  the  American 
land  forces,  had  advised  Moultrie  to  abandon 
the  fort  when  the  British  approached,  but  the 
brave  officer  would  not  desert  it,  and  his  victory 
was  so  complete  that  the  ladies  of  Charleston 
presented  him  with  an  elegant  stand  of  colors, 
and  the  fort  was  named  "  Fort  Moultrie." 

107.  What  memorable  act  of  bravery  oc- 
curred during  the  fight  ? 

Ans.  On  one  bastion  of  the  fort  was  displayed 
the  Union  flag  (the  equivalent  of  our  present 
Federal  colors),  and  on  the  opposite  bastion 
was  hoisted  the  flag  of  South  Carolina — blue 
with  a  white  crescent,  on  which  was  emblazoned 
"  Liberty."  Early  in  the  action  the  staff  of  the 
latter  was  shot  away,  and  the  colors  fell  on  the 
beach,  outside  of  the  works.  William  Jasper, 
a  Sergeant,  discovering  the  loss,  leaped  through 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  45 

an  embrazure,  braving  the  thickest  of  the  fire, 
took  up  the  flag,  returned  with  it  safely,  and 
fastening  it  to  a  sponge-staff  (used  for  cleaning 
cannon),  he  planted  it  on  the  summit  next  the 
enemy. 

1 08.  What    were    the    dying  words   of    the 
patriot  officer,  Macdaniel,  during  the  conflict  ? 

Am.  "I  am  dying;  but  don't  let  the  cause 
of  liberty  expire  with  me !  " 

109.  When  Washington  reached  New  York 
from  Boston,  what  were  his  first  measures  of 
defence  ? 

Ans.  He  proceeded  at  once  to  fortify  the 
town  and  the  Hudson  Highlands.  His  force 
was  only  about  7,000  men. 

no.  Where  was  the  British  General  Howe  at 
this  time  ? 

Ans.  At  Halifax,  where  he  went  when  driven 
from  Boston. 

in.  When  did  he  leave  Halifax  ? 

Ans.  On  June  n,  1776,  when  he  sailed  for 
New  York,  reaching  Sandy  Hook  on  the  apth. 

1 1 2.  Where  did  he  land  ? 

Ans.   On  Staten  Island,  on  July  ad. 

113.  What  accessions  did  he  receive  at  this 
point  ? 

Ans.  He  was  here  joined  by  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton, who  had  come  up  from  the  South  after 


46      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

his  defeat  at  Fort  Moultrie,  and  by  his  brother, 
Admiral  Howe,  with  a  fleet  and  large  land  force 
from  England. 

114.  How  large  a  British  force  was  thus  gath- 
ering ? 

Ans.  Including  vessels,  which  were  now  ar- 
riving with  hired  Hessian  troops,  30,000  sol- 
diers, many  of  them  veterans,  were  ready  to 
meet  the  American  army,  on  August  i,  1776. 

115.  What  was  Washington's  force  ? 

Ans.  About  17,000  men  were  intrenched  in 
and  around  New  York,  but  many  of  them  were 
unfit  for  duty. 

1 1 6.  What  other  adverse  influence,  besides 
disparity  of  troops,  had  Washington  to  contend 
with? 

Ans.  When  General  Howe  arrived  at  Staten 
Island,  the  inhabitants  received  him  with  open 
arms.  The  Tories  flocked  to  his  standard,  or- 
ganized themselves  into  companies  and  bat- 
talions, or  scattered  themselves  over  the  coun- 
try, and  served  as  spies,  to  give  information,  or, 
as  opportunity  afforded,  harass  the  people. 

117.  What  was  Howe's  first  move? 

Ans.  To  land  on  Long  Island,  which  he  did 
without  opposition. 

1 1 8.  What  was  the  date  of    his   landing  on 
Long  Island  ? 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  47 

Ans.  August  22,  1776,  and  during  the  day 
10,000  effective  British  soldiers  were  landed 
between  Fort  Hamilton  and  Gravesend  Village. 

119.  How  had  Washington  prepared  for  this 
encroachment  of  the  British  ? 

Ans.  He  had  disposed  his  main  army  on  Man- 
hattan Island,  as  a  guard  to  the  city  of  New 
York,  but  had  sent  out  detachments  to  the  most 
exposed  points  in  the  vicinity.  The  largest  de- 
tachment was  sent  to  Brooklyn,  under  General 
Sullivan,  who  occupied  a  fortified  camp  opposite 
New  York.  Generals  Putnam  and  Stirling 
were  also  in  command  of  forces  on  the  island. 

120.  By  whom  were  the  British  forces  on  the 
island  led  ? 

Ans.  By  Sir  Heury  Clinton,  Gen.  James 
Grant,  Lord  Percy,  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  the 
Hessian  commander,  De  Heister. 

121.  When  did  the  fighting  begin  ? 

Ans.  Before  dawn  on  the  morning  of  August 
27,  1776. 

122.  What  was  the  result  ? 

Ans.  The  Americans  were  defeated  at  all 
points.  They  were  opposed  by  veterans  and  a 
much  superior  force,  and  it  was  like  leading  a 
forlorn  hope.  At  noon  the  victory  for  the 
British  was  complete. 

123.  What  loss  was  sustained  by  the  British  ? 


48      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans  Abcmt  five  hunderd  in  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners. 

124    What  was  the  loss  of  the  Americans  ? 

Ans.  Five  hundred  killed  and  wounded  and 
eleven  hundred  made  prisoners.  Many  of  the 
captives  were  consigned  to  the  Sugar  House  on 
Liberty  street  and  the  prison  ships  in  Wall- 
about  Bay.  The  hard  lot  of  these  prisoners 
made  the  fate  of  those  who  perished  in  battle  an 
enviable  one. 

125.  What  occurred  on  the  night  of  August  29? 

Ans.  While  Howe  and  his  troops  were  resting, 
secure  of  their  prey  as  they  thought,  under 
cover  of  a  heavy  fog  Washington  silently  with- 
drew his  shattered  army,  and  as  the  sunlight 
fell  upon  the  river,  the  last  boat-load  of  patriots 
had  reached  New  York.  While  the  Long 
Island  defeat  was  a  distressing  one,  and  on 
many  accounts  the  most  so  of  any  during  the 
war,  Washington's  masterful  retreat  was  one 
of  the  greatest  achievements  of  the  seven  years' 
struggle.  Aided  by  the  sea-fog,  which  came 
rolling  in  from  the  ocean,  shrouding  the  British 
camp,  hanging  over  the  East  River  and  hiding 
Brooklyn  (without  enveloping  New  York). 
Washington  remained  standing  on  the  ferry 
stair  and  would  not  enter  his  boat  till  all  were 
embarked. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  49 

126.  What  was   the   date   of  this  landing  in 
New  York  ? 

Ans.  August  30,  1776.  At  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning  Washington  stepped  on  shore, 
having  before  him  nearly  9,000  men  with  their 
provisions,  military  stores,  field  artillery  and 
ordnance. 

127.  What  was  the  effect  of  this  retreat  upon 
Howe  ? 

Ans.  He  was  greatly  chagrined,  and  prepared 
to  make  an  attack  on  New  York  before  the 
Americans  should  be  reinforced  or  escape. 

128.  What  was  Washington's  next  move  ? 
Ans.  Seeing  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  Howe 

to  hem  him  in  by  sending  land  forces,  by  way 
of  the  East  river  to  the  upper  part  of  the 
Island,  and  also  feeling  sure  that  the  English 
fleet  in  New  York  harbor  would  render  his 
position  untenable,  he  decided  on  the  i2th  of 
September  to  remove  military  stores  to  a  secure 
place,  at  Dobbs  Ferry,  on  the  Hudson,  and 
retreat  to  and  fortify  Harlem  Heights. 

129.  When  did  the  British  take  possession  of 
New  York  ? 

Ans.  On  September  15,  1776. 

130.  When  was  the  next  encounter  between 
the  two  forces  ? 

Ans.   On  September  i6th,  at  Harlem  Heights. 


50      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

This  was  a  severe  skirmish  in  which  the  Ameri- 
cans were  victorious;  but  it  cost  the  lives  of 
two  brave  American  officers,  Colonel  Knowlton 
of  Connecticut,  and  Major  Leitch  of  Virginia. 

131.  What  was  Howe's  next  manoeuvre  ? 
Ans.  Leaving  a  strong  force  in  possession  of 

New  York  on  September  zoth,  he  sent  three 
armed  vessels  up  the  Hudson  to  cut  off  the 
Americans  from  communication  with  the  west- 
ern shore,  and  fresh  troops  from  England  made 
their  way  to  a  point  in  Westchester  County,  be- 
yond the  Harlem. 

132.  What  was  Howe's  apparent  purpose  ? 
Ans.  To  form  a  connection   with  the   large 

body  of  troops  in  Canada,  who  would  secure  the 
Hudson  and  its  Highlands,  and  with  his  com- 
mand around  New  York,  prevent  the  Ameri- 
cans' escape  through  New  Jersey,  and  oblige 
them  to  surrender. 

133.  What  means  did  Washington  employ  to 
gain  an  exact  knowledge  of  the  plans  of  the 
British  at  this  time  ? 

Ans.  He  called  for  a  volunteer  to  enter  the 
British  camp,  and  accepted  the  services  of 
young  Capt.  Nathan  Hale.  Captain  Hale  be- 
longed to  Colonel  Knowlton's  Connecticut 
troops.  He  was  only  2 1  years  of  age,  a  grad 
uate  of  Yale  College  and  an  ardent  patriot. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  51 

134.  What  was  the  result  of  Hale's  attempt? 
Ans.  On  September  22nd,  while  in  the  above 

service,  he  was  caught  within  the  British  lines, 
avowed  his  name  and  his  purpose,  and  was 
executed  in  what  is  now  New  York  City,  as  a 
spy.  His  last  words  were:  " I  only  regret  that 
*I  have  but  one  life  to  lose  for  my  country."  A 
monument  has  been  erected  to  his  memory  in 
City  Hall  Park,  New  York. 

135.  What  battles  occurred  in  October,  1776, 
in  the  North  ? 

Ans.  On  the  nth  and  i3th  the  British,  under 
Carleton,  met  Colonel  Arnold,  with  his  com- 
mand, who  had  been  stationed  at  Fort  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point  during  the  summer. 
A  naval  encounter  on  Lake  Champlain  ensued, 
and  the  Americans  were  obliged  to  burn  their 
fleet  and  retire.  Carleton,  however,  though  at 
the  gateway  to  the  Hudson,  did  not  follow  up 
his  success  by  taking  Ticonderoga,  but  returned 
to  winter  quarters  in  Canada,  reserving  that 
conquest  for  a  glorious  opening  of  his  next 
campaign,  and  awaiting  tidings  from  Howe. 

136.  How  did  Washington  meet  the  strategy 
of  the  enemy  ? 

Ans.  Perceiving  their  designs  to  shut  him  in, 
he  placed  a  garrison  of  nearly  3,000  men  at 
Fort  Washington  and  withdrew  the  remainder 


52        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

of  his  army  to  White  Plains.  There,  on  Octo- 
ber 28,  1776,  there  was  a  severe  engagement. 
The  Americans  were  driven  from  their  position, 
but  formed  a  strong  camp  at  North  Castle,  about 
five  miles  above. 

137.  What  was   the   effect   of  the  battle   of 
White  Plains  on  the  British  ? 

Am.  Howe  decided  not  to  risk  an  attack  upon 
Washington  in  his  present  stronghold,  and  on 
November  4th  he  returned  to  New  York  by  way 
of  Dobbs  Ferry. 

138.  What  investigations  of  the  Hudson  and 
its  approaches  near  the  Highlands  did  Washing- 
ton now  make  ? 

Ans.  On  November  nth  and  i2th  he  went 
with  Generals  Heath,  Stirling,  Mifflin,  and 
James  and  George  Clinton  to  make  an  examin- 
ation of  this  vicinity. 

139.  What  were  his  instructions  in  regard  to 
the  Highlands? 

Ans.  He  gave  Heath  the  command  of  the 
posts  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  with  3,000  men 
from  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  New  York 
to  secure  them. 

140.  Where  did  Washington  then  go  ? 

Ans.  Having  already  sent  about  five  thou- 
sand men  into  New  Jersey  under  General 
Putnam,  he  crossed  the  river,  and  took  up  his 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  53 

position  at  Hackensack,  six  miles  from  Fort 
Lee,  on  November  14,  1776. 

141.  What  was  the  fate  of  Fort  Washington  ? 
Ans.  On  November  i6th,  it  was  taken  by  the 

Hessians  under  Rahl  and  Knyphausen.  The 
American's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  not 
very  large  ;  but  besides  the  loss  of  much  valu- 
able artillery  and  military  stores,  2,600  were 
taken  prisoners,  many  of  them  well-trained 
soldiers,  and,  like  the  captives  taken  on  Long 
Island,  they  were  consigned  to  the  prison  ships. 

142.  What  was  the  next  loss  by  the  Ameri~ 
cans? 

Ans.  On  the  approach  of  a  large  force  of 
English  and  Hessians,  Fort  Lee,  on  the  Jersey 
shore,  opposite  Fort  Washington,  was  evacu- 
ated November  20,  1776. 

143.  What  were  some  of  the  facts  of  interest 
in  this  evacuation  ? 

Ans.  Washington,  still  in  Hackensack,  re- 
ceived word  that  the  British  had  crossed  the 
Hudson  at  Closter  Landing,  and  that  Corn- 
wallis  was  on  his  way  to  Fort  Lee.  Mounting 
his  charger,  in  three-quarters  of  an  hour  Wash- 
ington reached  the  fort,  took  the  command  of 
the  troops  stationed  there,  and  led  them  down 
the  hill,  and  through  the  valley  of  the  Hacken- 
sack river,  and  over  "New  Bridge"  in  safety. 


54        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

Less  than  three  hours  afterward,  a  detachment 
from  Cornwallis's  command  came  up  to  the 
river,  but  the  Americans  had  burned  the  bridge 
behind  them,  and  the  English  forces  retired. 

144.  What  was   the   danger   to  the   army  in 
Hackensack  ? 

Ans.  The  possibility  of  being  hemmed  in  be- 
tween the  Passaic  and  Hackensack  rivers. 

145.  How  did  Washington  prevent  this  ? 
Ans.  He  moved  his  army  to  Newark,  beyond 

the  Passaic,  on  November  2ist. 

146.  What     difficulty    did     Washington    en- 
counter in  his  command  ? 

Ans.  The  insubordination  of  Gen.  Charles 
Lee,  who,  with  one-half  of  Washington's  force 
under  him,  was  never  ready  to  obey  the  com- 
mand of  his  superior. 

147.  What    threatened    Washington    in    the 
rear  ? 

Ans.  Cornwallis  was  still  advancing,  and 
reached  Newark  on  November  28th,  as  the 
Americans  left  the  town. 

148.  Where  did  Washington  go  from  Newark  ? 
Ans.   Directly  to  New  Brunswick  ;  but  after 

a  short  rest  he  moved  on  across  the  Raritan, 
breaking  down  the  bridge  as  he  retreated. 
Cornwallis  again  was  just  too  late,  though  a 
sharp  cannonading  took  place  across  the  river. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  55 

149.  Where  did  the  army  rest  on  December 
2,  1776  ? 

Ans.  At  Princeton,  where  Washington  left 
Stirling  with  1,200  men,  and  then  moved  down 
to  Trenton  From  there,  transferring  his 
baggage  and  stores  across  the  Delaware,  he 
faced  about,  with  such  troops  as  were  fit  for 
duty,  to  resist  the  progress  of  the  enemy. 

150.  On  his  way  to  Princeton,  what  occurred  ? 
Ans.  He   met   Stirling  retreating    before    a 

large  force,  and!  he  also  returned  and  crossed 
the  Delaware  on  December  8th. 

151.  What    did    the    British    do   when    the 
Americans  retreated  ? 

Ans.  They  remained  at  Princeton  for  several 
hours,  and  then  taking  up  the  march  for 
Trenton  they  arrived  just  in  time  to  see  the 
last  boat  of  the  patriots  safely  pass  the  river. 

152.  Why  did   not  the   British   immediately 
follow  ? 

Ans.  For  lack  of  transportation.  Washing- 
ton had  secured  or  destroyed  every  boat  on  the 
river  for  miles. 

153.  Where  did  the  British  main  force  lie  ? 
Ans.  On  the  east  side  of  the  Delaware,  where 

Howe  held  a  strong  reserve  at  New  Brunswick, 
with  detachments  at  Pennington,  Trenton, 
Princeton,  Bordentown  and  Burlington. 


56      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

154.  For  what  is  December  13,  1776,  memor- 
able ? 

Ans.  The  capture  of  Gen.  Charles  Lee,  who, 
though  second  in  command,  had  continually 
acted  in  direct  opposition  to  Washington,  criti- 
cising all  the  movements  of  the  Commander-in- 
Chief.  He  was  taken  in  New  Jersey  by  a 
scouting  party  of  the  British,  and  sent  to  New 
York  as  prisoner.  He  was  exchanged  in  1777, 
but  acted  the  traitor  till  his  death  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1782. 

155.  What  reinforcement  now  came  to  Wash- 
ington ? 

Ans.  Retaining  his  position  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Delaware,  he  was  strengthened  by  Lee's 
command,  now  under  Sullivan,  and  three  regi- 
ments from  Ticonderoga  under  General  Stark. 

156.  What  was  now  Washington's  plan  ? 
Ans.  To  re-cross  the  Delaware  and  attack  the 

enemy  in  their  separate  detachments. 

157.  What  time  was  set  for  this  movement, 
and  against  whom  was  it  to  be  first  directed  ? 

Ans.  The  night  of  December  25,  1776.  The 
Hessians,  now  at  Trenton  under  Rahl  (who  had 
been  prominent  in  the  affairs  at  White  Plains 
and  Fort  Washington),  were  to  be  the  first 
object  of  attack. 

158.  What  were  the  main  features  of  this 
movement  ? 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  57 

Ans.  At  dusk,  on  Christmas  night,  1776,  the 
troops  selected  for  this  purpose  (2,400  men  and 
twenty  pieces  of  artillery),  began  to  cross  the 
Delaware,  at  "  McKonkey's  Ferry,"  nine  miles 
above  Trenton.  Imagination  can  hardly  depict 
the  scene.  The  cold  was  intense.  A  storm  of 
snow  and  hail  was  raging,  and  floating  ice  ren- 
dered the  river  well-nigh  impassable.  Though 
the  Delaware  at  this  point  was  only  600  feet 
wide,  its  passage  by  heavily  laden  flat-boats  was 
difficult  in  the  extreme,  and  it  was  four  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  when  the  troops 
were  mustered  on  the  Jersey  shore.  Fortu- 
nately the  storm  kept  every  one  within  doors, 
concealing  the  approach  of  troops,  with  artil- 
lery, over  the  frozen  grounds.  The  Hessians, 
(as  Washington  foresaw),  had  spent  Christmas 
day  and  night  in  sports  and  festivities,  and  Rahl 
was  indulging  in  wine  and  cards  up  to  the 
moment  of  the  attack.  The  surprise  was  com- 
plete. Between  forty  and  fifty  Hessians  were 
killed,  and  more  than  one  thousand  prisoners 
were  taken.  Rahl,  who  received  his  death- 
blow, was  held  up  by  his  men  for  the  act  of 
surrender.  Of  the  Americans,  two  were  frozen 
to  death  and  two  killed.  The  military  stores 
taken  were  also  large. 

159.  What  was  the  effect  of  this  victory  on 
the  English  ? 


58      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  The  contempt  of  the  British  forces  for 
the  "rebels  "  was  changed  to  respect  and  fear. 
Cornwallis,  who  was  about  to  embark  for  Eng- 
land, was  ordered  by  Howe  to  return  to  New 
Jersey  and  prepare  for  a  winter's  campaign. 

160.  How   did    the    year    1777  open  in   the 
American  army  ? 

Ans.  Washington's  achievement  had  given 
life  and  spirit  to  the  whole  body  of  troops.  He 
crossed  the  Delaware  into  Pennsylvania  again, 
immediately  after  the  success  of  December  26th, 
taking  with  him  more  than  one  thousand  pris- 
oners; but  he  was  not  yet  ready  to  give  up  New 
Jersey  to  the  British  and  their  minions.  There- 
fore he  recrossed  the  river  again  and  took  up 
post  at  Trenton,  on  the  ist  and  26.  of  January, 
1777;  and  here  with  an  army  of  less  than  five 
thousand  he  awaited  Cornwallis,  who  came  on 
the  ad  with  the  flower  of  the  British  army  to 
encounter  him. 

161.  What  was  the  result  of  this  encounter  ? 
Ans.  Washington  was  obliged  to  retreat  from 

the  town,  but  the  enemy  were  harassed  by  mus- 
ketry from  houses  and  barns,  and  night  coming 
on  they  decided  to  put  off  the  fight  till  morning. 

162.  While   the    British   reposed,    what  was 
done  in  the  camp  of  the  Americans  ? 

Ans.   Leaving  his  camp  fires  burning,  and  a 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  59 

working  party  busily  and  noisily  at  work  till 
daybreak,  Washington  swept  around  the  British 
by  country  roads,  fell  upon  the  troops 
near  Princeton,  routed  them,  took  over  200 
prisoners,  and  by  rapid  marches  reached  Morris- 
town  Heights  on  January  4,  1777. 

163.  How   was   Cornwallis  apprised    of  this 
defeat  ? 

Ans.  By  the  report  of  a  cannon  in  the 
direction  of  Princeton,  on  the  morning  of 
January  3d.  Having  waited  at  Trenton  for 
morning,  to  make  the  attack  on  the  Americans, 
he  then  discovered  that  Washington  had  out- 
generaled him. 

164.  What  was  the  effect  of  these  battles  at 
Trenton  and  Princeton  on  the  States  ? 

Ans.  These  surprising  successes  were  hailed 
with  thrilling  emotions  by  a  disheartened 
Nation,  and  with  these  victories  originated  the 
expression,  "  Great  news  from  the  Jerseys." 

165.  What     was    accomplished    during    the 
remaining  months  of  the  winter  of  177 6-' 77  ? 

Ans.  Washington  remained  in  Morristown, 
and  establishing  cantonments  at  different  points 
from  Princeton  to  the  Hudson  Highlands,  he 
sent  out  detachments  to  harass  the  perplexed 
British.  These  expeditions  were  conducted 
with  so  much  skill  and  spirit  that  on  the  ist  of 


60      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

March,  1777,  not  a  British  or  Hessian  soldier 
could  be  found  in  New  Jersey  except  at  New 
Brunswick  and  Amboy. 

1 66.  Where  was  Howe  during  this  time  ? 

Ans.  In  New  York  City,  asking  for  rein- 
forcements, with  which  he  would  "  finish  the 
war  in  a  year." 

167.  What  occurred  in  Connecticut  on  April 

25,  1777? 

Ans.  Tryon,  at  the  head  of  2,000  Hessians 
and  British,  went  up  Long  Island  Sound  to 
Connecticut,  marched  to  Danbury,  pillaged  and 
burned  the  town,  and  cruelly  treated  the  inhab- 
itants. Ridgefield  was  also  raided  at  this  time. 

1 68.  What  did  a  band  of  Connecticut  patriots 
accomplish  on  May  22,  1777  ? 

Ans.  Colonel  Meigs  crossed  the  Sound  from 
Guilford  with  170  men,  and  on  the  23d  attacked 
a  British  provision  post  at  Sag  Harbor,  burned 
the  storehouse  and  contents  and  a  dozen  vessels, 
and  secured  ninety  prisoners,  without  losing  a 
man. 

169.  What  action  did  Howe  take  in  June  ? 
Ans.  He  passed  over  from  New  York  to  New 

Brunswick  with  his  main  body  of  troops,  and 
essayed  to  draw  Washington  (who  was  now 
strongly  posted  at  Middlebrook)  into  an  en- 
gagement. Not  succeeding,  he  suddenly  re- 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  6 1 

treated  on  June  igth,  sending  some  troops  to 
Staten  Island.  Then  suddenly  changing  front, 
he  attempted  to  gain  Washington's  rear;  but 
after  Stirling's  brigade  had  maintained  a  severe 
skirmish  with  Cornwallis,  the  Americans  re- 
gained their  camp,  and  five  days  afterward,  on 
June  3oth,  the  whole  British  army  crossed  over 
to  Staten  Island,  leaving  New  Jersey  in  com- 
plete possession  of  the  patriots. 

170.  How  was  the  4th  of  July,    1777,   cele- 
brated in  Philadelphia  ? 

Ans.  This  first  anniversary  of  the  ' '  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  "  was  hailed  with  a  feel- 
ing of  security  and  triumph.  Bells  rang  all 
the  day  and  evening.  Ships  floated  the  new 
flag  of  the  nation,  and  fireworks,  bonfires  and 
a  general  illumination  showed  the  joy  of  the 
people. 

171.  What  was   the  next   movement  in   the 
North  ? 

Ans.  On  July  5,  1777,  Burgoyne  compelled 
the  Americans  to  evacuate  Fort  Ticonderoga, 
and  two  days  later  a  detachment  of  his  army  de- 
feated them  in  a  severe  battle  at  Hubbardtown. 
Fort  Anne  and  Fort  Edward  were  also  aban- 
doned— the  latter  on  July  226.. 

172.  What  was  the  object  of  this  movement 
of  the  British  in  the  North  ? 


62      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  To  form  a  union  with  the  British  forces 
around  New  York  by  way  of  the  Hudson. 

173.  At  the  same  time,  what  diverting  move 
did  Howe  make  toward  the  South  ? 

Ans.  Leaving  Gen.  Henry  Clinton  in  com- 
mand in  New  York,  he  embarked  with  a  fleet  of 
18,000  troops  for  the  South  early  in  July,  1777. 

174.  How  did  this  affect  Washington's  move- 
ments ? 

Ans.  Leaving  a  strong  force  on  the  Hudson, 
Washington  went  with  his  main  body  to  Phila- 
delphia. 

175.  What  French  ally  met  him  there  ? 

Ans.  General  Lafayette,  a  wealthy  French 
nobleman,  who  having  heard  of  the  American 
struggle  and  read  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence, was  fired  with  inspirations  to  give  aid 
to  the  patriots.  Lafayette  had  already  offered 
his  services  to  the  Continental  Congress,  and 
he  received  the  commission  of  Major-General 
on  July  31,  1777.  He  was  introduced  to 
Washington  at  a  public  dinner,  on  August  3d, 
and  in  less  than  forty  days  was  gallantly 
fighting  for  freedom  in  America. 

176.  What  important  battles   occurred  early 
in  August,  1777  ? 

Ans.  A  British  force  under  Colonel  Barry 
and  Lieutenant  Leger  ascended  the  St.  Law- 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  63 

rence  and  landing-  at  Oswego  laid  seige  to  Fort 
Stanwix  (now  Fort  Schuyler)  on  August  3d. 
On  the  6th7  a  force  of  800  militia  led  by  General 
Herkimer,  when  marching  to  relieve  Fort 
Stanwix,  fell  into  an  ambush  near  Oriskany, 
where  one  of  the  fiercest  battles  of  the  whole 
Revolutionary  War  was  fought.  Both  sides 
claimed  a  victory.  Herkimer,  mortally  wound- 
ed, drove  the  enemy  away,  but  was  obliged  to 
retreat. 

177.  What  was  the  result  at  Fort  Stanwix  ? 
Ans.  Overtures  from  the  British  commandant 

were  made  with  much  threatening  language  to 
which  Colonel  Willett  replied  in  words  of  such 
spirit  and  bravery,  as  left  no  doubt  in  the  minds 
of  the  enemy,  and  on  August  226.,  when  rein- 
forcements were  ready  to  do  battle  at  the  Fort, 
the  British  suddenly  broke  camp  and  fled  in 
such  haste  and  confusion  as  to  leave  their  tents, 
a  great  part  of  their  artillery,  camp  equipage 
and  baggage. 

178.  While  the  seige  of  Fort  Stanwix  was  in 
progress,  what  was  done  by  Burgoyne  ? 

Ans.  While  in  possession  of  Fort  Edward,  he 
learned  that  stores  of  provisions  and  military 
supplies  had  been  collected  by  the  patriots  at 
Bennington,  and  hoping  to  secure  them  for  his 
own  command,  he  sent  an  expedition  with  ver- 


64      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

bal  orders  to  march  directly  to  Bennington, 
take  these  supplies  and  then  march  at  once  to 
Albany.  In  compliance  with  this  order  a  force 
of  about  two  thousand  moved  on  towards  Ben- 
nington; but  before  reaching  there,  they  were 
entrapped  by  Col.  John  Stark,  when  700  pris- 
oners were  taken,  and  more  than  200  left  dead 
on  the  field,  with  the  loss  of  many  officers.  A 
large  number  of  cannon  were  taken  as  trophies 
of  victory.  This  "battle  of  Bennington"  oc- 
curred on  August  1 6,  1777.  The  Americans' 
loss  was  14  killed  and  42  wounded. 

179.  What  was  a  sequel  to  this  brilliant  vic- 
tory ? 

Ans.  It  enabled  the  Americans  to  send  a 
force  in  Burgoyne's  rear,  and  cut  him  off  from 
Lake  Champlain. 

1 80.  What  encounter  occurred  in  Virginia  on 
September  i,  1777  ? 

Ans.  The  Battle  of  Fort  Henry,  where 
Wheeling,  W.  Va. ,  now  stands.  This  fort  was 
named  for  Patrick  Henry,  then  Governor  of 
Virginia.  Great  Britain  had  left  no  stone  un- 
turned to  secure  the  favor  of  the  Indians,  and 
on  September  ist  this  fort  was  assailed  by  350 
of  the  Wyandotte  and  other  tribes,  who  had 
been  supplied  with  provisions,  arms  and  am- 
munition by  Hamilton,  the  British  Governor  at 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  65 

Detroit.  -  Supposing  the  Indians  to  be  few  in 
number,  a  detachment  of  fourteen  men  was 
sent  out  to  meet  the  invaders,  but  they  were 
driven  in  with  almost  an  entire  loss.  After- 
wards, preceded  by  a  drum  and  fife  and  a  Brit- 
ish flag,  the  enemy  approached,  displaying  the 
scalps  which  had  just  been  torn  from  their  hap- 
less victims.  On  the  morning  of  the  zd  help 
from  other  forts  arrived,  and  at  last  what 
seemed  a  defeat  was  turned  into  victory.  The 
feats  of  daring  in  that  encounter  were  among 
the  most  remarkable  in  the  history  of  the  Revo- 
lution. 

181.  What  was  Howe's  destination  on  leaving 
New  York  in  July,  1777  ? 

Ans.  After  waiting  in  New  York  Harbor, 
with  his  300  sail,  till  near  August,  he  moved  to 
the  South,  and  entering  the  Chesapeake  he  dis- 
embarked at  the  head  of  the  Bay  on  August 
25th. 

182.  How   did   Washington   respond  to  this 
move  of  Howe  ? 

Ans.  Surmising  that  Howe  intended  to  go  to 
Philadelphia,  he  crossed  the  Delaware,  and 
marched  to  oppose  him.  With  11,000  men  he 
met  him  at  Brandywine  Creek,  with  double  that 
force,  on  September  nth.  In  the  encounter, 
Washington  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the 


66      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

field,  but  in  various  skirmishes  he  detained 
Howe  two  weeks  on  his  march  of  twenty-six 
miles  to  Philadelphia.  The  British  entered 
that  city  on  September  26th,  making  their  en- 
campment at  Germantown,  four  miles  away. 

183.  What   was  being    done   in   September, 
1777,  near  Albany  ? 

Ans.  On  the  i3th  Burgoyne  crossed  the  Hud- 
son, and  without  the  aid  from  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton, which  he  had  expected,  he  was  engaged 
from  September  ipth  to  October  7th  at  Bemis 
Heights,  Stillwater,  and  Saratoga,  in  encoun- 
ters with  the  patriots,  ending  in  his  surrender 
on  October  i7th.  Burgoyne's  surrender  is 
ranked  by  military  critics  as  the  turning  point 
of  the  Revolution,  and  Sir  Edward  Creasy 
ranks  Saratoga  as  one  of  the  fifteen  decisive 
battles  of  the  world. 

184.  What    battle    occurred    on    October  4, 
1777,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  what  was   the  re- 
sult? 

Ans.  The  battle  of  Germantown.  The 
Americans  had  nearly  become  victorious,  when, 
a  fog  arising,  one  American  battalion  fired  into 
another,  causing  a  sudden  panic,  and  hence  a 
defeat. 

185.  What  was  accomplished  in  October, 
1777,  by  the  British  on  the  Hudson  ? 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  67 

Ans.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who  had  superseded 
Howe  in  command  at  New  York,  went  with  a 
strong  force  to  the  Highlands,  and  on  October 
i3th  captured  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery. 
Marauding  parties  went  above  this  point,  in 
hope  of  drawing  off  some  of  the  patriot  forces 
around  Saratoga.  They  burned  Kingston,  but, 
hearing  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  they 
hastily  retreated,  and  Clinton  and  his  army 
returned  to  New  York. 

1 86.  What   was    threatening  the   British   in 
Philadelphia  ? 

Ans.  Fort  Mifflin  in  Pennsylvania  and  Fort 
Mercer  in  New  Jersey,  both  on  the  Delaware, 
near  Philadelphia,  shut  the  army  off  from  sup- 
plies, and  there  was  danger  of  starvation.  After 
severe  and  prolonged  assaults,  the  forts  were 
taken  on  November  19,  1777. 

187.  What  attempt  to  vanquish  the  Ameri- 
cans did  Howe  make  before  going  into  winter 
quarters  at  Philadelphia  ? 

Ans.  He  announced  to  his  government  that 
he  should  make  a  forward  movement  on  the 
"rebels, "and  on  the  night  of  December  4, 
1777,  he  marched  out  with  14,000  men  to  attack 
the  American  lines.  Washington,  whose  keen- 
ness of  sight  had  been  developed  by  his  early 
forest  life,  had  selected  strong  ground  for  en- 


68      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

campment  in  the  woods  of  White  Marsh,  four- 
teen miles  from  Philadelphia.  At  night  the 
British  force  rested  on  their  arms  about  three 
miles  from  the  Americans,  and  the  fires  of  the 
two  armies  illuminated  the  country  for  miles 
around.  Though  Washington  had  but  7,000 
effective  men  he  desired  an  engagement,  but 
Howe  instead  marched  back  on  the  5th  to  Ger- 
mantown.  Returning  on  the  6th,  as  if  intend- 
ing a  surprise,  he  reconnoitered  all  day.  Noth- 
ing occurred,  however,  except  a  sharp  action  on 
Edge  Hill,  when  the  British  lost  eighty-nine, 
and  the  Americans  lost  the  brave  Major  Morris 
of  New  Jersey  and  twenty-seven  soldiers.  Howe 
returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  passed  the  winter 
behind  his  entrenchments,  and  thus,  on  Decem- 
ber 8th,  the  campaign  closed,  Washington  hav- 
ing no  choice  but  to  seek  winter  quarters  for  his 
suffering  army. 

1 88.  Where  were  these  winter  quarters  found  ? 
Ans.  At   Valley  Forge    on    the    Schuylkill, 

twenty-one  miles  from  Philadelphia. 

189.  What  was  there  to  recommend  this  loca- 
tion for  an  encampment  ? 

Ans.  The  ground  lay  between  two  ridges  of 
hilts,  and  was  covered  with  forest  trees.  Wash- 
ington saw  in  these  trees  a  town  of  log  cabins 
affording  shelter,  to  save  the  army  from  dis- 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  69 

persion,  and  on  December  igth  it  was  encamped 
at  Valley  Forge,  within  a  day's  march,  of 
Howe's  forces,  but  with  no  covering  till  they 
could  build  their  own  houses.  Without  tents, 
blankeis,  clothing  or  shoes,  the  work  of  the 
Christmas  holidays  changed  the  forest  into  huts, 
thatched  with  boughs,  in  the  order  of  a  regular 
encampment.  Washington's  vigilance  securing 
against  surprise,  love  of  country,  and  attach- 
ment to  their  commander,  sustained  the  patriots 
during  their  distressing  hardships. 

190.  What  assistance  did  Washington  receive 
in  preparing  his  troops  for  future  action  ? 

Ans.  Baron  Steuben,  a  Prussian  officer,  had 
adopted  America  for  his  country,  and  on  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1778,  he  was  welcomed  at  Valley 
Forge,  where  he  wrought  a  reform  in  the  use 
of  Ihe  musket  and  in  manoeuvring  of  troops. 

191.  What  assistance  came  from  France  ? 

Ans.  Through  the  efforts  of  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin a  French  alliance  was  formed,  and  a  treaty 
was  signed  on  February  6,  1778,  by  which  the 
Americans  bound  themselves  to  accept  no  terms 
of  peace  till  Great  Britain  should  recognize  the 
independence  of  the  United  States. 

192.  When  did  news  of  the  French  alliance 
reach  Washington's  army  ? 

Ans.  On  May   6,   1778,  and  the   patriots   at 


70      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Valley  Forge  celebrated  the  event  with  fitting 
ceremonies. 

193.  How   had  the   British    in    Philadelphia 
passed  the  winter  ? 

Ans.  The  soldiers  had  been  well  provided 
for,  the  officers  being  quartered  on  the  inhabit- 
ants. The  days  were  spent  in  pastime  and  the 
nights  in  entertainments. 

194.  What  were  some  of  the  means  used  to 
obtain  supplies  for  the  British  ? 

Ans.  Detachments  were  sent  out  into  New 
Jersey  and  the  country  round,  and  by  inhuman 
assaults  on  forts  and  villages  they  returned  to 
Germantown  laden  with  spoils. 

195.  What   was   the   first   movement  of  the 
French    government    in    compliance    with    its 
treaty  with  the  United  States  ? 

Ans.  A  squadron  was  dispatched  to  blockade 
the  British  fleet  in  the  Delaware. 

196.  What   was    the    effect    of    the   French 
movement  upon  the  British  ? 

Ans.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  now  in  command, 
withdrew  his  whole  army  from  Philadelphia 
on  June  18,  1778. 

197.  How  was  Clinton's  plan  in   a  measure 
frustrated  ? 

Ans.  He  intended  to  go  to  New  York  by  way 
of  Amboy.  He  had  with  him  11,000  men,  and 
a  large  baggage  and  provision  train.  Washing- 


ESTABLISHMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE-.         71 

ton  immediately  broke  camp  at  Valley  Forge, 
and  pursued  Clinton  with  more  than  an  equal 
force.  Clinton  was  compelled  to  change  his 
course,  in  the  direction  of  Sandy  Hook,  and  he 
was  harassed  in  flank  and  rear  by  the  New  Jer- 
sey militia. 

198.  What  celebrated  battle  occurred  at  this 
time  ? 

Ans.  The  Battle  of  Monmouth, on  June  26,1778. 

199.  What  was  the  result  ? 

Ans.  A  terrible  contest  raged  all  day,  and 
when  night  came,  both  armies  were  glad  of  a 
cessation  of  hostilities.  The  Americans  rested 
on  their  arms,  intending  to  renew  the  fight  at 
dawn ;  but  when  dawn  came  the  British  camp 
was  found  to  be  deserted. 

200.  Where  did  Clinton  go  ? 

Ans.  His  shattered  forces  boarded  the  British 
fleet  lying  at  Sandy  Hook,  and  he  went  with 
them  to  New  York,  which  was  British  head- 
quarters until  the  war  ended. 

201.  Where  did  Washington  then  go  ? 

Ans.  To  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  thence 
across  the  Hudson  to  White  Plains,  which  he 
reached  on  July  20,  1778,  and  where  he  remained 
till  late  autumn. 

202.  With  what  terrible  massacre  did  July, 
1778,  open  ? 


72      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  A  party  of  British  rangers  and  Indians, 
under  Col.  John  Butler  (a  most  brutal  Tory), 
went  down  the  Tioga  river,  and  in  the  Wyom- 
ing valley  murdered  with  ruthless  cruelty  men, 
women  and  children.  The  strong  men  who 
might  have  protected  this  region,  were  on  duty 
in  distant  parts,  and  the  destruction  of  homes 
was  complete.  The  British  leader  boasted  that 
he  had  burned  a  thousand  houses  and  every 
mill.  This  is  called  the  ' '  Massacre  of  Wyom- 
ing." 

203.  What  other  encounter  occurred  with  the 
British,  who  had  still  the  Indians  and  Tories  for 
allies  ? 

Ans.  George  Rogers  Clark,  a  young  Virgin- 
ian, learning  that  Hamilton,  the  British  com- 
mandant at  Detroit,  had  made  a  plan  to  induce 
all  the  Western  tribes  to.  make  war  upon  the 
frontier,  undertook  to  carry  the  war  into  the 
enemy's  country.  By  a  masterly  movement, 
begun  in  July,  1778,  he  defeated  and  captured 
Hamilton,  and  ended  (in  February,  1779)  by 
holding  the  whole  country  north  of  the  Ohio, 
from  the  Alleghanies  to  the  Mississippi. 

204.  What  was  the  situation  in  Rhode  Island 
in  July  and  August,  1778  ? 

Ans.  On  July  2pth  the  French  fleet,  arriving 
off  Newport,  forced  the  English  to  destroy  ten 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  73 

of  their  war  vessels.  On  August  i  oth  a  British 
fleet  of  thirty-four  sail  appearing  before  New- 
port, the  French  fleet  gave  chase,  but  the  Eng- 
lish got  away  without  a  fight. 

205.  What   other    engagements   occurred   in 
August,  1778,  in  Rhode  Island? 

Ans.  The  land  forces  of  the  patriots  were  de- 
feated at  Quaker  Hill  and  Newport  Island. 

206.  What  notable  massacre  by  the   British 
with   assistance  from    the   Tories    took    place 
September  27,  1778? 

Ans.  A  force  of  patriots  was  quartered  in  the 
village  of  New  Tappan,  Rockland  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  another  command  was  at  Old 
Tappan  or  Harrington  near  the  Hackensack 
river.  Cornwallis,  on  a  foraging  expedition 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  finding  these 
troops  comparatively  defenseless,  came  upon 
them  at  evening  and  every  one  of  the  force 
was  bayoneted  without  quarter. 

207.  What  were  some  of  the  outrages  com- 
mitted in  October,  1778  ? 

Ans.  The  British,  still  depending  on  the  Tory 
allies,  spread  themselves  over  New  Jersey, 
destroying  the  shipping  at  Little  Egg  Harbor, 
burning  towns  and  villages  and  laying  waste 
the  surrounding  lands.  On  the  night  of 
October  isth,  they  surprised  the  infantry  under 


74      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

command  of  Pulaski  (the  Polish  nobleman,  who 
had  been  made  Brigadier  General)  but,  instead 
of  cumbering  themselves  with  prisoners,  killed 
all  they  could. 

208.  When  did  the  Cherry  Valley  massacre 
occur  ? 

Ans.  On  November  n,  1778.  The  fort  was 
found  to  be  too  strong  to  take,  but  the  band  of 
Indians,  Tories  and  regulars  raided  the  town, 
murdered  and  scalped  the  inhabitants,  many  of 
them  women  and  children.  The  story  of  these 
massacres,  repeated  from  village  to  village, 
only  strengthened  the  purpose  of  resistance. 

209.  What  had   been    accomplished   by  the 
two  armies  during  the  fall  months  of  1778  ? 

Ans.  Washington's  force  at  White  Plains  had 
been  comparatively  quiet,  owing  to  the  inac- 
tivity of  the  British,  who  still  had  their  head- 
quarters on  Manhattan  Island. 

210.  What   move  did  Washington   make   in 
December,  1778  ? 

Ans.  Convinced  that  the  enemy  had  no  pres- 
ent designs  for  operating  in  New  England,  he 
prepared  to  put  his  army  into  favorable  winter 
quarters.  Six  brigades  were  cantoned  on  the 
east  of  the  Hudson  and  at  West  Point.  One 
brigade  was  placed  in  the  rear  of  Haverstraw, 
one  at  Elizabethtown,  and  seven  at  Middle- 


ESTABLISHMENT   OF    INDEPENDENCE.  75 

.  brook,  where  tie  made  his  headquarters,  as  in 
the  previous  year. 

211.  What  plan  of  the  British  was  developed 
at  the  close  of  the  year  1778? 

Ans.  To  carry  the  war  into  the  Southern 
States.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sent  about  2,000 
troops  under  Colonel  Campbell  to  invade 
Georgia,  as  being1  the  weakest  member  of  the 
confederacy,  and  on  December  29,  1778,  they 
captured  Savannah.  They  retained  the  city  as 
headquarters  until  1782. 

212.  How  did  the  year  1779  open? 

Ans.  Though  the  British  had  made  no  head- 
way in  conquering  the  Colonies,  the  year 
opened  gloomily  for  the  patriots,  for  lack  of 
money  with  which  to  prosecute  the  war. 

213.  What  plan  did  Congress  make  for  the 
campaign  of  1779? 

Ans.  It  resolved  to  act  on  the  defensive,  ex- 
cept in  retaliatory  measures  against  the  Indians 
and  Tories  in  the  interior  and  on  the  frontier. 

214.  How  were  the  British  carrying  out  their 
plan  for  separating  the  Southern  Colonies  from 
the  Northern  ? 

Ans.  They  had  captured  Savannah  on  De- 
cember 29,  1778,  and  early  in  January,  1779, 
Brigadier- General  Prevost  (who  had  been  suc- 
cessful in  subduing  Florida)  marched  as  a  con- 


76      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

queror  across  lower  Georgia,  capturing  Fort 
Sunbury,  on  the  pth,  on  his  way  to  Savannah. 
Colonel  Campbell,  who  had  been  sent  from 
New  York  to  co-operate  with  Prevost,  with  800 
Hessians,  took  possession  of  Augusta. 

215.  Who  was  then  commanding  the  south- 
ern army  of  patriots  ? 

Ans.  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln,  of  Massachu- 
setts. 

216.  Where  was  he  located  at  the  opening  of 
the  1779  campaign  ? 

Ans.  On  the  South  Carolina  side  of  the  Sa- 
vannah river. 

217.  What  was  the  first  success  by  the  patriots 
in  this  campaign  ? 

Ans.  On  February  3,  1779,  the  enemy  were 
defeated  at  Beaufort,  S.  C. 

218.  What  was  the  next  American  success  ? 

Ans.  On  February  i4th  Col.  Andrew  Pick- 
ens  defeated  Colonel  Boyd,  and  his  large  acces- 
sion of  Tories,  at  Kettle  Creek,  Ga. 

219.  What  was  an   important  effect  of    this 
success  ? 

Ans.  The  Tories  of  the  Carolinas  never  again 
assembled  except  in  small  parties. 

220.  When  did  the  last  engagement  in  the 
spring  of  1779  occur  in  Georgia. 

Ans.  On  March  3d,  at  Briar  Creek,  where,  in 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  77 

consequence  of  lack  of  precaution  on  the  part 
of  General  Ashe,  the  patriots  were  defeated, 
After  this  success,  General  Prevost  proclaimed 
a  sort  of  civil  government  in  Georgia. 

221.  How  was  Sir  Henry  Clinton  employing 
his  forces  in  the  North  ? 

Ans.  He  was  sending  out  marauding  expedi- 
tions, to  plunder  and  harass  the  people  on  the 
seacoast.  On  March  25th  and  26th,  they  dis- 
persed the  Americans  at  Greenwich,  Conn., 
and  General  Putnam  barely  escaped  capture  by 
some  dragoons.  He  afterwards  rallied  his 
troops  and  recaptured  much  of  the  plunder  and 
took  thirty- eight  prisoners. 

222.  What   measures  did    Congress  institute 
in  retaliation  for  the  massacres  of  the  summer 
of  1778  ? 

Ans.  It  directed  Washington  to  protect  the 
inland  frontier,  and  chastise  the  Indians  who 
had  been  engaged  in  these  massacres. 

223  What  was  the  first  movement  against 
the  Indians  in  pursuance  of  these  instruc- 
tions ? 

Ans.  Before  a  great  expedition  was  ready, 
Colonel  Van  Schaick  and  Colonel  Willett  made 
a  swift  move  upon  the  Onondagas,  on  April  20, 
1779,  and  destroyed  their  settlement  without 
the  loss  of  a  man. 


78      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

224.  What  engagement  occurred  in  the  South 
on  May  n,  1779  ? 

Ans.  General  Prevost  attempted  to  take 
Charleston,  and  approaching  Charleston  Neck 
demanded  a  surrender,  which  was  promptly 
refused.  A  letter  having  been  intercepted 
from  General  Lincoln  (commander  of  the 
patriots  in  the  South),  which  charged  General 
Moultrie  not  to  give  up  the  city,  as  he  was 
hastening  to  his  relief,  caused  the  British  to 
retreat  in  the  night. 

225.  What  other  operations  took  place  in  the 
South  in  May  ? 

Ans.  The  British  entered  Hampton  Roads, 
Va. ,  and,  co-operating  with  land  forces,  spread 
desolation  on  both  sides  of  the  Elizabeth  River 
from  the  Roads  to  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth. 
After  destroying  avast  amount  of  property,  they 
withdrew,  and  at  the  close  of  the  month  of  May 
were  assisting  Sir  Henry  Clinton  on  the  Hudson. 

226.  What   engagement   occurred   in    South 
Carolina  in  June,  1779  ? 

Ans.  On  the  2oth  at  Stono  Ferry,  the  patriots 
drove  the  enemy  with  great  precipitation  into 
their  works.  The  hot  season  now  coming  on, 
hostilities  in  the  South  were  suspended. 

227.  What     successful    manoeuvre    did    Sir 
Henry  Clinton  execute  on  June  ist? 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  79 

Ans.  He  moved  on  the  Hudson  Highlands 
and  took  Stony  Point  and  Verplanck's  Point. 
These  points  were  the  termini  of  King's  Ferry, 
which  had  been  the  crossing  place  for  Washing- 
ton between  Connecticut  and  New  Jersey. 

228.  Why  did  Clinton  not  continue  his  march 
to  the  North  ? 

Ans.  The  rapid  movement  of  General  Wash- 
ington and  his  forces  prevented  his  going  far- 
ther. Therefore,  leaving  strong  garrisons  at 
each  of  the  above  posts,  he  returned  to  New 
York. 

229.  How  did  July,  1779,  open  ? 

Ans.  By  a  skirmish  at  Bedford  and  Pound 
Ridge  in  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  when 
Colonel  Tarleton  was  obliged  to  retire,  though 
he  burned  dwellings  and  churches  in  his  re- 
treat. 

230.  What  invasions  on  the  seacoast  of  Con- 
necticut did  the  British  make  in  July,  1779  ? 

Ans.  Try  on,  who  had  burned  D  anbury  in  the 
previous  year,  landed  at  New  Haven  on  July 
5th,  plundered  the  town,  and  laid  Fairfield  and 
Norwalk  in  ashes. 

231.  What  brilliant  action  occurred  on  July 
16,  1779? 

Ans.  The  recapture  of  Stony  Point  by  ' '  Mad  " 
Anthony  Wayne.  It  was  retaken  by  a  surprise 


8o      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

at  night,  and  at  two  in  the  morning  Wayne, 
wounded  in  the  head  and  supported  by  two 
aids,  wrote  to  Washington  :  "The  fort  and 
garrison  are  ours." 

232.  Where  was  the  next  fight  ? 

Ans.  On  July  igth  Maj.  Henry  Lee  surprised 
a  British  garrison  at  Paulus  Hook,  (now  Jersey 
City,)  and  took  the  fort  and  160  prisoners. 

233.  In  carrying  out  the  instructions  of  Con- 
gress in  regard  to  the  frontier,  what  were  some 
of  the  engagements  ? 

Ans,  An  ancient  settlement  in  the  western 
part  of  Orange  County,  New  York,  called  Mini- 
sink,  met  with  unusual  severity,  by  the  Indians 
and  Tories.  On  July  22,  1779,  a  small  band 
under  Colonel  Hathorn,  of  the  Warwick  regi- 
ment, attempted  to  rout  the  enemy,  but  the 
latter  were  too  strong  for  the  patriots,  who 
were  themselves  routed.  At  Chemung  (now 
Elmira)  a  body  of  Indians  and  Tories,  strongly 
fortified,  was  dispersed,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
few  weeks  forty  Indian  villages  were  destroyed. 
These  retaliations  continued  till  the  end  of 
September,  1779,  but  the  beneficial  effects  on 
the  young  Republic  were  questionable. 

234.  What  naval  exploit  made  the  year  1779 
famous  ? 

Ans.   The  capture  of  the  British  war  vessel 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  8 1 

' '  Serapis  "  by  the  ' '  Bon  Homme  Richard, "  com- 
manded by  John  Paul  Jones,  on  September  23d. 
Jones,  who  was  born  in  Scotland,  came  to  Vir- 
ginia in  boyhood,  entered  the  American  naval 
service  in  1775,  an^  m  J779  ne  was  burning 
shipping  in  British  ports  and  threatening  Edin- 
burgh. His  capture  of  two  British  war  ships 
off  Flamborough  Head  (the  "Serapis"  and 
"Countess  of  Scarborough"),  after  one  of  the 
most  desperate  sea.  fights  on  record,  was  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  occurrences  in  the  naval 
annals  of  the  war. 

235.  How  was  the  summer  campaign  of  1779 
brought  to  a  close  ? 

Ans.  By  the  defeat  of  the  patriots  who  had 
laid  siege  to  Savannah  on  September  23d.  Gen- 
eral Lincoln,  with  the  aid  of  the  French  fleet 
under  Count  D'Estaing,  was  unsuccessful,  and 
the  losses  to  the  Americans  were  great. 
Pulaski,  the  brave  Pole,  and  Samuel  Jasper, 
who  so  bravely  replaced  the  fallen  flag  at  Fort 
Moultrie  in  1776,  were  sacrificed. 

236.  What  was  accomplished  in  October,  1779? 
Ans.  Very  little,   except  the   withdrawal    of 

the  British  troops  from  Rhode  Island,  which 
was  done,  October  25. 

237.  What    caused    the   British   to   evacuate 
Rhode  Island? 


82      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  Lafayette,  who  had  been  in  France  dur- 
ing the  summer,  had  induced  the  French  to 
send  another  powerful  fleet  and  several  thou- 
sand troops  to  aid  the  Americans.  Clinton, 
having  learned  of  this  intended  expedition, 
called  to  New  York  all  of  his  troops  at  the 
North. 

238.  What  occurred  during  the  two  remain- 
ing months  of  1779  ? 

Ans.  Clinton  sailed  for  the  South  on  Decem- 
ber 25th  with  aboiit  5,000  troops  to  open  a  vig- 
orous campaign  in  the  Carolinas,  and  Washing- 
ton went  into  winter  quarters  at  Morristown. 

239.  What  was  the  condition  of  the  army  of 
patriots  when  the  year  1780  came  in  ? 

Ans.  With  headquarters  at  Morristown,  N.  J. , 
the  army  was  obliged  to  remain  inactive  for 
lack  of  means  to  prosecute  the  war.  The  suf- 
fering of  the  soldiers  for  want  of  blankets  and 
clothing,  and  often  for  lack  of  food,  was  nearly 
as  great  as  in  that  trying  winter  at  Valley 
Forge  in  1778.  The  winter  of  1779-1780  was 
also  unusually  severe.  It  was  remembered  as 
the  coldest  winter  the  Colonists  had  ever 
known,  and  snow  fell  almost  continuously  from 
early  November,  1779,  till  March,  1780.  New 
York  bay  and  the  Hudson  river  were  as  firm  as 
land.  People  crossed  Long  Island  Sound,  from 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  83 

Connecticut  to  Lloyd's  Neck,  a  distance  of 
twelve  miles,  on  the  ice.  The  Raritan  river  in 
New  Jersey  was  frozen  solid  for  months.  The 
soldiers  were  employed  much  of  the  time  in 
breaking  roads  for  all  their  supplies,  having  the 
co-operation  of  the  inhabitants  with  their  teams. 
Sallies  were  occasionally  made  by  both  armies, 
but  nothing  of  moment  occurred  till  spring 
opened.  In  the  latter  part  of  March,  1780,  400 
British  Hessians  from  New  York  raided  the 
country  in  New  Jersey  as  far  as  the  northern 
line,  and  westward  to  Hackensack.  Their 
brutality  was  long  remembered. 

240.  When  did  Clinton  open  his  campaign  in 
the  vSouth  ? 

Ans.  On  April  10,  1780,  Clinton,  having 
passed  Fort  Moultrie,  summoned  Charleston  to 
surrender.  Escape  by  evacuation  was  no  longer 
possible  for  Lincoln,  as  he  was  surrounded  by 
many  thousand  troops,  with  Clinton,  Arbuthnot 
and  Cornwallis  in  command,  and  he  therefore 
capitulated  with  his  whole  army  on  May  i2th. 

241.  After  this  success,  where  did  Clinton  go  ? 

Ans.  He  returned  to  New  York,  leaving  Corn- 
wallis in  command,  and  South  Carolina  was 
soon  overcome  by  the  British. 

242.  What  was  the  condition  of  the  people  in 
South  Carolina  at  this  time  ? 


84     AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

Ans.  That  of  abject  submission.  Though 
there  were  many  at  heart  Tories,  the  mass  of 
the  people  were  suffering  from  terror.  Corn- 
wallis  was  brutal  in  the  extreme.  Confiscation 
and  other  punishments  were  inflicted  on  all 
patriots,  and  massacres  were  common. 

243.  What  was  the  first  important  battle  after 
that  of  Charleston  ? 

Ans.  That  of  Camden,  South  Carolina.  With 
great  exertion,  a  new  American  army  was  col- 
lected in  North  Carolina,  with  additions  from 
Virginia,  and  the  command  was  given  to  Gates. 
He  showed  himself  wholly  incapable,  and  on 
August  1 6,  1780,  Cornwallis  defeated  him  at 
Camden,  nearly  destroying  his  army. 

244.  What   was  the   result   of   the   last   two 
battles  ? 

Ans.  All  organized  resistance  to  Great  Brit- 
ain ceased  in  the  South. 

245.  What  noted  patriot  leaders  now  came  to 
the  front  ? 

Ans.  Marion,  Sumter,  Pickens  and  Henry 
Lee,  and  through  all  discouragements  they  kept 
the  patriots  in  heart. 

246.  What  was  lending  a  ray  of  hope  to  the 
Americans  at  the  North  ? 

Ans.  De  Grasse  and  Rochambeau,  with  the 
French  fleet  and  several  thousand  soldiers, 
landed  at  Newport  on  July  12,  1780. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  85 

247.  What  infamous   act  of    perfidy  by    an 
American  General  was  discovered  in  Septem- 
ber, 1780  ? 

Ans.  The  treason  of  Benedict  Arnold — one  of 
the  bravest  and  most  brilliant  American  Gen- 
erals in  battle,  but  a  man  of  weak  moral  char- 
acter. 

248.  What  was  the  nature  of  his  treason  ? 
Ans.  Hurt  by  alleged  injustice  to  him  in  the 

matter  of  promotions  and  smarting  under  a  rep- 
remand  for  mal-administration  in  Philadelphia, 
he  concerted  with  the  enemy  to  betray  the  stra- 
tegic line  of  the  Hudson  into  their  possession. 

249.  How  did  he  obtain  the  desired  oppor- 
tunity ? 

Ans.  He  asked  for  and  obtained  from  Wash- 
ington the  command  of  the  fortress  at  West 
Point. 

250.  Before   obtaining   this  command,   what 
preliminary  treasonable  measures  had  he  taken  ? 

Ans.  He  had  corresponded  with  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  through  Major  Andre  for  several 
months.  In  this  correspondence  through 
Andre  (Clinton's  Adjutant-General),  he  bar- 
gained to  betray  West  Point  and  its  dependen- 
cies into  the  hands  of  the  British.  For  this  ser- 
vice he  was  to  receive  a  Brigadier's  commission 
and  $50,000  in  money. 


86      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

251.  How  did  he  proceed  with  these  plans  ? 
Ans.   He  chose  a  time  when  Washington  was 

absent  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  conferring  with 
Rochambeau,  commander  of  the  French  fleet, 
which  had  reached  Newport  on  July  loth. 
Andre  met  Arnold  by  appointment  on  Septem- 
ber 22,  1780,  at  Haverstraw,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Hudson.  By  their  plans  then  concluded, 
Clinton  was  to  sail  up  the  river  with  a  strong 
force,  and  after  a  show  of  resistance  Arnold  was 
to  surrender  West  Point. 

252.  What  circumstance  defeated  their  plan  ? 
Ans.  The  "Vulture,"  in  which  Andre  went 

up  the  river,  was  driven  from  her  anchorage  by 
shots  from  the  shore,  fired  by  Lieut.  James 
Livingston,  while  Andre  was  in  consultation  with 
Arnold,  and  Andre  was  obliged  to  cross  the  river 
and  make  his  way  by  land  to  New  York. 

253.  What  was  his  experience  at  Tarrytown  ? 
Ans.  He  was  stopped  and  searched  by  three 

young  Militia-men,  who  finding  papers  con- 
cealed in  his  boots,  took  him  to  the  nearest 
American  post. 

254.  With  what  result  ? 

Ans.  The  papers  thus  found  revealed  the 
plot.  Arnold,  the  alarmed  traitor,  escaped  and 
found  safety  with  the  British  in  New  York,  and 
Andre"  was  hanged  as  a  spy,  October  2,  1780. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  87 

255.  How  did  Congress  show  its  appreciation 
to  the  three  Militia  men  who  secured  Andr£  ? 

Ans.  On  November  3,  1780,  it  voted  to  each 
a  silver  medal  and  a  pension  of  $200  a  year  for 
life. 

256.  What  was  a  sign  that  the  tide  was  turn- 
ing in  favor  of  the  Americans  ? 

Ans.  A  decisive  victory  on  October  7,  1780, 
at  King's  Mountain,  S.  C.  This  was  a  signal 
success  inasmuch  as  it  was  effected  by  a  people 
who  had  been  regarded  as  conquered  and 
powerless.  It  was  a  popular  triumph  by  troops 
who,  in  the  most  part,  went  into  the  fight  with- 
out the  expectation  or  hope  of  reward,  and  it 
was  a  beginning  of  a  series  of  victories. 

257.  Where  was  Arnold  found  in  1781  ? 
Ans.  In   the  service  of  Sir  Henry   Clinton, 

who  sent  him  with  1,600  men  to  make  a  series 
of  depredations  in  lower  Virginia.  He  burned 
Richmond  on  January  5th,  devastated  the 
the  country  to  and  around  Petersburgh,  and 
returned  to  New  York  in  April. 

258.  When,  and  under  what  leaders,  did  the 
battle  of  Cowpens  occur  ? 

Ans.  On  January  17,  1781.  Gen.  Nathaniel 
Greene,  having  succeeded  Gates  in  the  southern 
department,  sent  Gen.  Daniel  Morgan  into 
South  Carolina.  Near  the  northern  boundary, 


88     AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

at  Cowpens,  Tarleton,  under  Cornwallis,  met 
him,  and  a  severe  battle  was  fought,  in  which 
the  British  were  defeated,  with  great  loss.  In 
Morgan's  report,  he  attributed  his  success  "to 
the  justice  of  our  cause  and  gallantry  of  our 
troops." 

259.  What  was  the  next  important   engage- 
ment ? 

Ans.  At  Guilford  Court-House,  N.  C.,  on 
March  15,  1781.  In  this  battle  the  patriots 
under  Greene  met  the  enemy  under  Cornwallis. 
The  Americans  were  repulsed,  but  the  British 
were  so  much  broken  that  Charles  Fox,  in  the 
British  House  of  Commons,  said:  "Another 
such  victory  will  ruin  the  British  army." 

260.  What  was  the  last  important  action  of 
the  war  in  Georgia  ? 

Ans.  The  siege  of  Augusta,  which  lasted 
from  April  i6th  to  June  5,  1781.  This  siege 
was  concluded  by  a  complete  surrender.  The 
loss  to  the  patriots  was  about  40  killed  and 
wounded,  and  that  of  the  enemy  much  heavier, 
in  addition  to  300  prisoners.  Lieut. -Col.  Henry 
Lee  was  in  command. 

261.  What  were  some  of  the  minor  engage- 
ments in  the  South  up  to  the  time  of  the  sur- 
render of  Augusta,  June  5,  1781. 

Ans.  June  8th,  at  Charles  City  Court  House, 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  89 

Va.  (an  engagement  was  proposed  by  Arnold 
after  he  had  burned  Richmond) ;  on  February 
ist,  at  McCowan's  Fort,  N.  C.,  and  at  Wil- 
mington, N.  C. ;  on  February  6th,  at  Shallow 
Ford,  N.  C. ;  on  February  i2th,  at  Bruce  Cross 
Roads,  N.  C. ;  on  February  25th,  at  Haw  River, 
N.  C. ;  on  March  ad,  at  Clapp's  Mills,  N.  C. ; 
on  March  6th,  at  Wetzel's  Mills,  N.  C. ;  on 
April  12,  at  Fort  Balfour,  S.  C. ;  from  April 
1 5th  to  the  23d,  at  Fort  Watson,  S.  C. ;  on  April 
25th,  at  Petersburgh,  Va.,  and  at  Hillsborough, 
N.  C. ;  on  April  27,  at  Osborn's,  S.  C. ;  on  May 
nth,  at  Orangeburgh,  S.  C. ;  on  the  i2th,  at 
Fort  Motte,  S.  C. ;  the  i4th,  at  Nelson's  Ferry, 
S.  C. ;  the  isth,  at  Fort  Granby,  S.  C.,  and  on 
the  2ist,  at  Silver  Bluff,  S.  C.,  and  Fort  Galpin, 
Ga. 

262.  What  must  we  conclude  by  the  above 
showing  ? 

Ans.  That  the  British  were  very  unwilling  to 
give  up  their  determination  to  separate  the 
Colonies  in  the  South  from  those  in  the 
North. 

263.  What  was   effected  by  the   Americans 
between  April  25th  and  September  8,  1781  ? 

Ans.  Greene  had  chased  the  British  out  of 
South  Carolina,  except  in  Charleston  where 
they  were  covered  by  their  fleet. 


90        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

264.  Where  was  Cornwallis  at  the  beginning 
of  August,  1781  ? 

Ans.  He  had  transferred  his  7,000  men  to 
Yorktown  and  vicinity. 

265.  What    movement    was    made    by    the 
allied    patriotic    forces    in   the  latter  part  of 
August  ? 

Ans.  Washington,  learning  that  the  French 
fleet  could  aid  on  the  Virginia  coast,  at  once 
moved  with  6,000  men  (4,000  of  them  French- 
men, under  Count  Rochambeau)  from  the 
Hudson  through- New  Jersey  to  the  head  of  the 
Chesapeake  bay. 

266.  How  did  he  prevent  Clinton  from  guess- 
ing his  destination  ? 

Ans.  He  wrote  letters  to  General  Greene  and 
sent  them  so  as  to  be  intercepted.  These 
letters  convinced  Clinton  that  Washington  was 
intending  an  attack  on  New  York,  and  the 
patriots  were  beyond  Philadelphia  before  their 
movement  was  understood. 

267.  What   did   Clinton  then  do,  hoping  to 
change  their  course  ? 

Ans.  He  sent  Arnold  to  the  New  England 
coast.  The  marauders  perpetrated  a  horrible 
massacre  at  Fort  Griswold  on  September  6, 
1781,  and  burned  New  London.  This  occurred 
almost  in  sight  of  Arnold's  birthplace. 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE.  91 

268.  Of  what   avail   was  this  wretched  per- 
formance of  Arnold's  ? 

Ans.  It  only  added  infamy  to  infamy.  With 
this  expedition,  Arnold  disappears  from  history. 

269.  When  was  the  siege  of  Yorktown  com- 
menced by  the  Americans  ? 

Ans.  On  September  28,  1781.  With  16,000 
men  in  front,  and  the  great  French  fleet  under 
De  Grasse  closing  in  behind,  there  was  no 
escape  for  the  British,  and  Cornwallis  capitu- 
lated. 

270.  What  was  the  date  of  Cornwallis's  sur- 
render, and  what  did  it  signify  ? 

Ans.  Cornwallis  surrendered  October  19, 
1781,  and  thus  practically  terminated  the  war 
for  American  Independence. 

271.  What  was  the  effect  upon  the  country? 
Ans.  The  news  reached  Philadelphia  at  dead 

of  night.  The  people  were  awakened  by  the 
watchman's  cry:  "Past  two  o'clock,  and  Corn- 
wallis is  taken."  The  hardships  of  the  past 
were  forgotten  in  the  thought  that  America  was 
free. 

272.  How  was   the   autumn    passed   by  the 
American  army  ? 

Ans.  Intelligence  of  the  Yorktown  surrender 
reached  General  Greene,  near  Charleston,  on 
the  3oth  of  October,  but  he,  with  Wayne  and 


92        AN    AMERICAN  S    PATRIOTIC    CATECHISM. 

Marion,  kept  up  their  watchful  guard  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  still  entrenched  in  Savannah 
and  Charleston.  Washington  was  still  keeping 
Clinton  closely  confined  in  New  York. 

273.  What  action  did  the  House  of  Commons 
take  ? 

Ans.  On  March  4,  1782,  it  ordered  a  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities. 

274.  How  was  this  order  met  by  the  British 
army  ? 

Ans.  On  July  n,  1782,  they  evacuated  Sa- 
vannah, and  on  December  i4th  they  also  de- 
parted from  Charleston. 

275.  When  did  they  evacuate  New  York  ? 
Ans.  On  November  25,  1783,  soon  after  the 

final  negotiations  for  peace  were  concluded. 

276.  When  and  where  was  a  definite  treaty 
signed  ? 

Ans.  On  September  3,  1783,  at  Paris. 

277.  Where  was  the  American  camp  at  this 
time  ? 

Ans.  At  Newburgh-on-the- Hudson.  On  No- 
vember 3,  1783,  the  army  was  disbanded,  and 
the  patriots  quietly  returned  to  their  homes  to 
enjoy  the  blessings  of  the  Liberty  they  had  won. 

278.  What  acts  of  Washington  followed  the 
disbanding  of  the  army  ? 

Ans.   He  met  his  officers  in  Fraunces'  Tavern, 


ESTABLISHMENT    OF    INDEPENDENCE. 


93 


New  York,  on  December  4,  1783,  and  there 
bade  them  farewell.  On  December  23,  1783, 
he  went  to  Annapolis  and  resigned  the  commis- 
sion as  Commander-in-Chief,  which  he  had  re- 
ceived from  Congress  on  June  16,  1775. 


94      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 


WASHINGTON! 

Our  grandest  conception  of  manhood  is  em- 
bodied in  this  name.  Whether  we  think  of  him 
in  his  early  frontier  life,  or  as  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Continental  Army,  we  find  in  him 
the  wisdom  and  courage  that  could  turn  seem- 
ing defeat  into  victory.  There  were  those 
engaged  with  him  who  aspired  to  fill  his  place ; 
but  in  the  light  of  History  he  is  so  transcendent, 
that  we  wonder  at  the  audacity  that  essayed  to 
rob  him  of  his  laurels.  During  the  more  than 
seven  years  of  our  struggle  for  freedom  no  one 
discovered  faint-heartedness  in  this  sublime 
leader;  and  because  he  was  so  sublime  he  was 
able  to  give  heart  to  his  army,  even  in  the  dark- 
est hours.  When  the  Continental  Congress 
could  only  "promise  to  pay  "  for  faithful  ser- 
vices, Washington  was  able  to  quell  uprisings 
of  the  soldiers  which  threatened  to  subvert  the 
end  for  which  they  had  fought.  From  victories 
in  the  field  we  follow  him  to  Mount  Vernon, 
his  much-loved  home,  where  he  is  the  grand 
man  still.  In  less  than  four  years,  when  it 
becomes  apparent  that  something  other  than 
the  thirteen  Articles  of  Confederation,  framed 


WASHINGTON,  95 

in  1774,  is  needed  to  hold  the  new  States  to- 
gether, George  Washington  is  called  upon  to 
preside  over  that  illustrious  body  of  great  men 
who  framed  the  Constitution.  On  the  4th  of 
March,  1789,  the  "Continental  Congress" 
closed  its  labors  and  the  ' '  Federal  Constitution  " 
became  the  law  of  the  new  Republic.  A  wise 
hand  was  needed  to  guide  the  "  ship  of  state  " 
out  into  the  waters  where  waves  and  storms  of 
trouble  would  come,  and  instinctively  all  hearts 
turned  to  Washington,  "  whose  good  judgment 
and  valor  were  only  equalled  by. his  modesty. " 
On  April  6,  1789,  he  was  chosen  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  these  United  States.  We  see  him  in 
imagination  again  leaving  Mount  Vernon,  and 
we  involuntarily  follow  him  all  that  long  way 
(which  he  takes  on  horseback)  to  New  York 
city,  then  temporarily  the  seat  of  Government. 
There  is  a  vivid  picture  in  the  mind,  of  the 
scene  on  the  street  gallery  of  the  old  City  Hall, 
at  the  corner  of  Wall  and  Nassau  Streets,  where 
on  April  30,  1789,  thousands  gathered  to  wit- 
ness the  Inauguration.  No  one  more  than 
Washington  realized  the  importance  of  the  oc- 
casion, and  subsequent  history  has  proved  the 
wisdom  of  the  Nation's  choice.  One  term  of 
four  years  having  passed  a  second  was  pressed 
upon  him,  and  though  longing  for  rest,  such  as. 


96      AN  AMERICAN'S  PATRIOTIC  CATECHISM. 

his  home  would  give,  he  yielded  to  the  urgency 
of  the  times ;  but  when  a  third  term  was  pro- 
posed he  was  constrained  to  refuse  utterly.  His 
Farewell  Address  to  the  American  People, 
which  appeared  on  September  19,  1796,  is  one 
that  no  intelligent  lover  of  this  country  can 
afford  to  leave  unread,  and  his  advice  to  the 
Nation  is  wonderfully  prophetic  of  the  Nation's 
need  and  danger.  The  necessity  of  a  national 
capital  led  to  the  purchase  of  a  section  of  land 
ten  miles  square,  on  the  Potomac  river,  in  1790, 
and  Washington  honored  the  place  by  laying 
the  corner-stone  for  the  Capitol.  Bearing  the 
name  of  Washington,  in  1800,  that  city  became 
the  seat  of  Government.  Meantime,  after  a 
short  enjoyment  of  his  home  life,  Washington 
passed  away  on  December  14,  1799,  beloved 
and  honored  by  the  country  he  loved  so  well. 

' '  So  sleep  the  brave  who  sink  to  rest 
With  all  their  country's  honors  blest." 


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